Political

Party Committees

August 2004

Federal Election Commission Campaign Guide

Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

About this Guide

This Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees replaces the August 1996 edition. It summarizes the replaces the August 1996 edition. It summarizes the 

federal campaign fi nance laws applicable to party committees as of August 2004. It refl ects the changes 

to the Federal Election campaign Act (FECA) resulting from the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. 

That legislation took effect on November 6, 2002. Certain regulatory provisions discussed in this Guide 

were addressed in Shays and Meehan v. FEC Shays and Meehan v. FEC. When this guide went to print, that litigation had not yet . When this guide went to print, that litigation had not yet 

concluded.

 Federal Election Commission

 Washington, DC 20463

 Chairman:

 Bradley A. Smith

 Vice Chair:

 Ellen Weintraub

 Commissioners:

 Danny L. McDonald

 Michael E. Toner

 Scott E. Thomas

 David M. Mason

 Staff Director:

 James A. Pehrkon

 General Counsel:

 Lawrence H. Norton

 Prepared by the Information Division

 Director:

 Greg J. Scott

 Writer:

 Phillip Deen
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

Introduction

This Campaign Guide has been written to help 

political party committees at all levels—national, 

state, district and local—comply with the federal 

campaign fi nance law. This law regulates the money raised and spent to elect candidates to the 

U.S. Congress and the U.S. Presidency. Unregistered party organizations should instead consult 

the FEC brochure on “Local Party Activity.”

Defi ned Terms

Terms printed in italics have specifi c defi nitions 

under federal law. The defi nitions appear in Appendix G.

Citations

Most of the citations in this Guide refer to Federal 

Election Commission regulations.1 FEC advisory 

opinions are also cited. (More on advisory opinions below.)

Getting More Help

Toll-Free Line

Many questions on the federal campaign fi nance 

law can be answered informally by FEC staff. Call 

the FEC at:

800/424-9530

202/694-1100 (Washington, DC, area)

202/219-3336 (TDD)

Hearing-impaired persons may reverse the 

charges when calling long-distance on the TDD 

number. Questions may also be submitted by 

electronic mail to info@fec.gov.

Free Publications

In addition to this Guide, the FEC publishes a 

series of brochures and other publications on 

several aspects of the federal campaign fi nance 

law, all available free of charge. Subscriptions to 

the Commission’s newsletter, the Record, are also , are also 

available at no charge. Call the FEC to place your 

order.

FEC Web Site

Filing forms and other informational materials 

such as advisory opinions and recent changes in 

the FEC regulations are also available on the FEC 

web site (www.fec.gov).

Faxline

The FEC maintains a free automated fax-on-demand service, Faxline. Documents available on 

Faxline include selected parts of Title 2 of the 

U.S. Code, FEC regulations, advisory opinions 

(1990 – present), forms and schedules, brochures and other documents regarding campaign 

fi nance. To receive documents from the Faxline, 

call 202/501-3413 and follow the voice prompts.

Advisory Opinions

FEC advisory opinions (AOs) respond to questions on the legality of specifi c activities. Individuals and organizations involved in an activity 

that does not differ in any material aspects from 

that addressed in an AO may rely on the opinion 

for legal guidance. Advisory opinions are available 

on the Commission’s web site. Copies of advisory 

opinions may also be ordered from the FEC’s Public Records Offi ce; there is a small copying charge.

Anyone may request an advisory opinion on 

his or her own proposed or ongoing activity. 

Requests presenting only past acitivity or the activities of others do not qualify. The Commission 

has 60 calendar days after receiving a request to 

issue the advisory opinion. (A 20-day expedited 

response is available to candidate committee requesters in certain situations.) 112.4(b). However, 

if the Commission needs to seek further information from the requester, the 60-day period may 

be extended. Advisory opinion requests should be 

addressed to the Offi ce of General Counsel at:

Federal Election Commission

999 E Street, NW

Washington, DC 20463

1 FEC regulations are located in Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 100-400 and 9001-9039.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

Contents

CHAPTER 1 Getting Started 1

1. Who Should Use This Guide 1

2. Committee Registration 1

3. Types of Funds 2

4. Agents and Entities of Agents and Entities of the Committee the Committee 2

5. Committee Bank Accounts 3

6. Committee Treasurer 5

7. FEC Registration Form 6

8. Incorporating the Committee 9

CHAPTER 2 Contributions and Other 

Sources of Funds 9

1. Types of Contributions 9

2. Prohibited Contributions 11

3. Limits on Contributions Received by the 

 Committee 13

4. Affi liation and the Contribution Limits 14

5. Bank Loans and Overdrafts 14

6. Interest and Dividends 15

7. Other Sources of Funds 16

8. State Tax Checkoff Funds and Other

 State Proceeds 16

CHAPTER 3 Fundraising

Procedures 17

1. Solicitation Notices 17

2. Forwarding Contributions 18

3. Treasurer’s Receipt 18

4. Prohibited Fundraising Activity 18

5. Handling Illegal Contributions 19

6. Joint Fundraising Procedures 20

CHAPTER 4 Other Committee 

Resources 20

1. Legal and Accounting Services 20

2. Volunteer Activity 20

3. Transportation Expenses 21

4.Vendor Discounts 22

5. Corporate / Labor Communications 22

6. Use of Corporate/Labor Facilities and 

 Resources 24

CHAPTER 5 Contributions to 

Candidates and Committees 25

1. Overview 25

2. Contributions to Candidates 25

3. How the Candidate Limits Work 28

4. Designating Contributions to Candidates 29

5. Contributions to PACs 30

6. Prohibited Contributions 31

CHAPTER 6 Earmarked Contributions 31

1. Conduits 31

2. Contribution Limits 32

3. Forwarding Earmarked Contributions 32

4. Reporting Conduit Activity 32

5. Contents of Transmittal Reports 33

6. Reporting Instructions for Political 

 Committee Conduits 33

CHAPTER 7 Other Candidate

Support Activities 34

1. Coordinated Party Expenditures 34

2. Increased Coordinated Party Expenditure 

 Limits for Candidates Opposing 

 Self-Financed Candidates 36

3. Exempt Party Activities 38

4. Phone Banks 39

5. Support of Presidential Nominee 39

6. Use of Candidates’ Names in Special 

 Projects 40

7. Indirect Candidate Support 40

CHAPTER 8 Federal Election Activity 41

1. Defi nition 41

2. Funding Federal Election Activity 41

3. Levin Funds 42

4. Reporting Requirements 42

CHAPTER 9 Communications 43

1. Coordinated Communications 43

2. Party Coordinated Communications 45

3. Independent Expenditures 45

4. Communications that are Federal Election 

 Activity 47

5. Electioneering Communications 47

6. Disclaimer Notices on Communications 48
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

CHAPTER 10 Keeping Records 50

1. Treasurer’s Duties 50

2. Receipts 50

3. Disbursements 51

4. Treasurer’s Best Efforts 52

CHAPTER 11 Filing FEC Reports 53

1. Treasurer’s Duties 53

2. Reporting Deadlines 53

3. When to File 55

4. Monthly Reporting 56

5. Special Elections 57

6. Electronic Filing 57

7. Where to File 59

8. Public Review of Reports 60

CHAPTER 12 Completing FEC Form 3X 61

1. Reporting Forms 61

2. Itemized Receipts: Schedule A 62

3. Reporting Receipts: The Detailed 

 Summary Page 66

4. Itemized Disbursements 68

5. Reporting Disbursements: The Detailed 

 Summary Page 70

6. Contribution Refunds Made and Received 72

7. Reporting Reimbursed Advances of 

 Personal Funds 73

8. Investments 75

9. Coordinated Party Expenditures 75

10. Independent Expenditures 76

11. Reporting Loans 78

12. Reporting Debts Other Than Loans 80

13. Levin Funds / Federal Election Activity 81

14. The Summary Page 82

15. Filing Amendments 83

CHAPTER 13 Allocating Federal 

and Nonfederal Expenses 83

1. Who Must Allocate 83

2. What Expenses to Allocate 83

3. Allocation Methods 84

4. Payment of Allocated Expenses 85

5. Reporting Allocated Administrative, 

 Generic Voter Drive and Exempt 

 Party Activity Expenses 86

6. Reporting Allocated Committee 

 Fundraising Expenses 87

7. Candidate Support Activities as In-Kind 

 Contributions 90

8. Transfers and Payments Covering

 Different Categories 92

9. Refunds and Rebates of Allocable 

 Expenses 93

10. Prohibited In-Kind Donations for

 Allocable Activities 94

CHAPTER 14 Reporting Federal 

Election Activity 97

1. What to Report 97

2. When to File 97

3. Reporting Receipts and Disbursements 

 of Levin Funds 97

4. Allocation of Federal Election Activity 98

5. Reporting Unallocated Federal Election 

 Activity 100

6. Reporting Allocated Expenses 100

CHAPTER 15 Termination and 

Debt Settlement 103

1. Committees with No Outstanding Debts 103

2. Committees with Outstanding Debts: 

 Debt Settlement 103

3. Committees with Outstanding Debts: 

 Administrative Termination 105

Appendix A Nonmajor Political 

Parties 107

1. Benefi ts of Political Party Status 107

2. Qualifying as Political Party 107

3. Qualifying as National Committee 107

4. Qualifying as State Party Committee 108

5. Qualifying as District or Local Party 

 Committee or Subordinate Committee 109

Appendix B Joint Fundraising 109

1. Introduction 109

2. Restrictions 110

3. Fundraising Representative 110

4. Written Agreement 110

5. Separate Depository 110

6. Statements of Organization 111

7. Start-Up Costs 111

8. Joint Fundraising Notice 111

9. Screening Contributions 112

10. Recordkeeping 112

11. Allocating Gross Proceeds 112

12. Allocating Expenses 113

13. Calculating Net Proceeds 113

14. Reporting 114

15. Exception for Party Committees and

 Organizations 114
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

Appendix C Partnership 

Contributions 115

1. Contribution Limits 115

2. Attribution Among Partners 115

3. Prohibited Partnership Contributions 115

4. Contributions from Professional 

 Corporations 116

5. Reporting Partnership Contributions 116

6. Partnership Contribution Plans 117

7. Partnership PACs 117

Appendix D National Convention 

Delegates 117

1. Delegates and Delegate Committees 117

2. Funds Raised and Spent for Delegate 

 Activity 118

3. Contribution Prohibitions and Limits 118

4. Expenditures 119

5. Affi liation 121

Appendix E Federal and 

Nonfederal Campaign Laws 122

1. When Federal Campaign Finance Law 

 Takes Precedence 122

2. When Federal Campaign Finance Law 

 Does Not Take Precedence 122

Appendix F Other Laws 123

1. Ballot Access Laws 123

2. Tax Laws 123

3. Communications Act 123

4. Hatch Act 123

3. Levin Funds 123

Appendix G Defi nitions 124

Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

1 Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Getting Started

1. Who Should Use This 

Guide

This guide is written for party committees that 

have registered (or may need to register) as federal political committees.

This guide is not intended for local party 

groups that do not have to register as federal political committees. However, those groups remain 

subject to several FEC regulations.

In this guide, the term party committee refers refers 

to a party unit that has qualifi ed as a political 

committee under federal law, with attendant registration and reporting requirements. 100.5. The 

term party organization refers to a party unit that 

has not triggered federal registration and reporting requirements.1

2. Committee Registration

A party organization becomes a political committee under the Federal Election Campaign Act (the 

Act) when its activity in connection with a federal ) when its activity in connection with a federal 

election exceeds one of the registration thresholds. The committee then has 10 days to fi le an 

FEC registration form (FEC Form 1). 100.5 (a) 

and (c); 102.1(d).

A newly registered political committee must begin disclosing its fi nancial activity in FEC reports.

1 See especially 11 CFR 100.5(a) and (c) – defi nition 

of political committee; 100.51-100.56 – defi nition of 

contribution; 100.110-100.114 – defi nition of expenditure; 

102.5(a) and (b) – organizations fi nancing activity in connection with federal and nonfederal elections; 102.6(a)(1) 

and (2) – transfers of funds; 106.7 – allocation of federal 

and nonfederal activity by party committees; 110.1 and 

110.2 – contribution limits; 110.4, 110.20, 114.2 and 115.2 

– prohibited contributions; 109.32 – party committee 

expenditure limits; and 110.11(a) – communications. For 

more information on unregistered party organizations, call 

the FEC.

2 Certain criteria must be met before a committee qualifi es 

as a national party committee or state party committee; see 

Appendix A.

3 Note that the terms contribution and expenditure mean 

money, loans, advances, goods, services or anything of 

value given for the purpose of infl uencing federal elections. 

100.52(a) and 100.111(a).

Registration Thresholds

State and National Organizations

A party organization at the state or national level2

becomes a political committee when, during a 

calendar year, it:

• Spends more than $1,000 in contributions and 

other expenditures; or

• Raises more than $1,000 in contributions. 

100.5(a).

Local Organizations

A local party organization becomes a political becomes a political 

committee when, during a calendar year, it:

• Spends more than $1,000 in contributions and 

other expenditures;3 or

• Raises more than $5,000 in contributions; or

• Spends more than $5,000 on exempt party 

activities. 100.5(c). . 100.5(c).

Permissible Funds

Note that party organizations must fi nance their 

activity in connection with federal elections with 

funds that comply with the federal contribution 

limits and prohibitions. 102.5(b).

$1,000 Threshold for 

Contributions/Expenditures Made

Once a party organization spends more than 

$1,000 per calendar year on contributions and 

other expenditures, it becomes a political committee and must register. Note that the $1,000 

threshold is an aggregate one—it applies to all 

contributions and expenditures made by the organization during the year, including transfers to a 

party committee (i.e., a federal account).

$1,000 and $5,000 Thresholds for 

Contributions Received

The “contributions received” threshold is $1,000 

for state and national organizations and $5,000 

for local party organizations. Funds specifi cally 

solicited or donated for the purpose of infl uencing federal elections count against this threshold 
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

2 Chapter 1

4 Additional defi nitions of agent appear in the glossary, 

Appendix G.

(and are subject to the federal limits and prohibitions). 

Funds (including loans) transferred in from 

a party committee (i.e., a federal account) also 

count against the threshold if they are used 

by the recipient party organization for federal 

activity.

$5,000 Threshold for Exempt 

Activities

This threshold applies only to local party organizations. Spending in excess of $5,000 per . Spending in excess of $5,000 per 

year on exempt party activities triggers political 

committee status. However, if the exempt activity 

supports both federal and nonfederal candidates, 

only the portion of the expense allocable to 

federal candidates counts against the $5,000 

threshold. For more information on exempt party 

activities, see page 38.

3. Types of Funds

State, district and local party committees may 

raise and spend as many as three different types 

of funds:

• Federal – These funds are subject to the limits, 

prohibitions and reporting requirements of 

the Act and are used to fi nance activities in 

connection with federal elections. Only federal 

funds count against the registration thresholds, 

described above;

• Nonfederal – These funds are subject to state 

law, but may not be permissible under federal 

law. Nonfederal funds are generally used to 

fi nance state and local election activities; and

• Levin – This is a new category of funds used for 

certain federal election activity. Levin funds may . Levin funds may 

include donations from some sources ordinarily 

prohibited by federal law (e.g. corporations, 

unions and federal contractors) but permitted 

by state law. Levin donations are limited to 

$10,000 per calendar year from any source or 

to the limits set by state law – whichever limit 

is lower. For further information on Levin funds, 

see page 42

National parties may not solicit, raise, direct 

or spend funds or anything of value that are not 

subject to the prohibitions, limitations and reporting requirements of the Act. This prohibition 

of nonfederal and Levin funds also applies to any 

agent or offi cer acting on behalf of the national 

party committee or any entity that is directly 

or indirectly established, fi nanced, maintained 

or controlled by a national party committee. 

300.10(a)-(c). For information on agency and 

such entities, see below.

4. Agents and Entities of

 the Committee

Any prohibitions that apply to political party 

committees also apply to any agent or offi cer 

acting on behalf of the party committee or any 

entity which is directly or indirectly established, 

fi nanced, maintained or controlled by a party 

committee.

Agents of a Committee

An agent is any person who has actual authority, 

either expressed or implied, to engage in certain 

activities on behalf of the committee.4

State and Local Party Committees

In the case of state and local party committees, 

these activities are:

• Expending or disbursing any funds for federal 

election activity;

• Transferring or accepting transfers of funds for 

federal election activity;

• Engaging in joint fundraising activity if any part 

of the funds are to be used for federal election 

activity; or

• Soliciting any funds for, or making or directing 

any donations to, any tax-exempt 501(c) 

organization or 527 organization that is not also 

a political committee, a party committee or a 

campaign committee. 300.2(b)(2).

National Party Committees

In the case of the national party committees, 

these activities are:

• Soliciting, directing or receiving a contribution, 

donation or transfer of funds; or

• Soliciting any funds for, or making or directing 

contributions to, any tax-exempt 501(c) 

organization or 527 organization that is not also 

a political committee, a party committee or a 

campaign committee. 300.2(b)(1).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

3 Chapter 1

Defi nition of Solicit

To solicit means to ask that another person 

contribute, donate or transfer funds or otherwise provide anything of value, either directly or 

through an intermediary. Solicitation does not 

include providing information or guidance regarding the law. 300.2(m).

Defi nition of Direct

To direct means to ask a person who has expressed an intention to make a contribution, donation, transfer of funds, or to provide anything 

of value, to do so either directly or indirectly 

through an intermediary. Direction does not 

include merely providing information or guidance 

regarding the law. 300.2(n).

Entities of a Committee

To determine whether or not an organization is 

an entity of a party committee, a number of factors may be taken into account. Each is examined 

within the context of the overall relationship between the sponsor and the entity. These factors 

include whether the sponsor:

• Owns controlling interest in the voting stock or 

securities of the entity;

• Has the authority or ability to direct or 

participate in governing the entity. This 

authority may come from bylaws, constitutions, 

contracts or other rules, or through formal or 

informal practices;

• Has the authority or ability to hire, fi re or 

otherwise control the decision-making members 

of the entity;

• Has overlapping membership with the entity 

which indicates a formal or ongoing relationship 

between them;

• Has overlapping offi cers or employees with 

the entity that indicates a formal or ongoing 

relationship between them;

• Has any members, offi cers or employees who 

were members, offi cers or employees of the 

entity that indicates a formal or ongoing 

relationship between them;

• Provides funds or goods in a signifi cant amount 

or on an ongoing basis to the entity. This does 

not include transfers of an allocated share of 

joint fundraising activity;

• Causes or arranges for funds in a signifi cant 

amount or on an ongoing basis to be provided 

for the entity. Again, this does not include 

transfers of an allocated share of joint 

fundraising activity;

• Had an active or signifi cant role in the formation 

of the entity; and

• Has similar patterns of receipts or disbursements 

with the entity that indicate a formal or ongoing 

relationship between them.

300.2(c)

Safe Harbor Provision

Determination of whether an organization is an 

entity of a party committee is based on activity 

after November 6, 2002, only.

5. Committee Bank 

Accounts

State, district and local party committees or 

organizations that engage in both federal and 

nonfederal activities must follow certain rules to 

ensure that federal activity is fi nanced with funds 

that comply with the limitations and prohibitions 

of the Act. Federal activities include, for example: . Federal activities include, for example:

• Contributions and other spending on behalf of and other spending on behalf of 

specifi c federal candidates;

• The federal portion of allocable expenses, such 

as administrative expenses and generic voter 

drive costs;

• Certain transfers of funds to other party 

committees; 

• Contributions to federally registered PACs; and

• Certain federal election activity (FEA), described (FEA), described 

in Chapter 8.

Each state, district or local party organization 

or committee that fi nances activity in connection 

with federal and nonfederal elections has three 

options:

• Set up three separate types of bank account: 

one or more federal accounts used for federal 

activity, one or more nonfederal accounts used 

exclusively for nonfederal activity and one 

or more Levin accounts used for certain FEA. 

300.30(c)(2); or

• Set up two separate types of account: one 

or more federal accounts and a nonfederal 

account. Committees that choose this option 

may deposit Levin funds into the nonfederal 

account, but must keep detailed records. 

300.30(c)(3); or
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

4 Chapter 1

• Set up one or more federal bank accounts for 

all of its activity, both federal and nonfederal. 

Such an account cannot accept Levin funds. 

300.30(c)(1) and 102.5(a)(1)(ii). It must 

comply with all requirements of the Act.

For more information on the receipt of Levin 

funds, see Chapter 8.

Three Accounts: Federal, 

Nonfederal and Levin

Only contributions permissible under federal 

law may be deposited into the federal account. 

All federal activity must be transacted from that 

account. 102.5(a)(1) and (2); 300.30(b)(3)(i) 

and (ii).

By contrast, the nonfederal account may not fi -

nance any federal activity. The nonfederal account 

has no registration or reporting obligations under 

federal law but is subject to nonfederal laws, such 

as state registration and reporting requirements. 

See below.

Payments for administrative and other mixed 

federal/nonfederal expenses must be paid by the 

federal account or a special allocation account. 

Once a party committee establishes an allocation 

account, all allocable expenses must be paid for 

from that account as long as it exists. The nonfederal account may transfer its allocated portion 

of a mixed expense to the federal or allocation account, as explained in Chapter 13. 106.(7)(f). No 

funds from a combined allocation account may be 

transferred to any other account maintained by 

the committee or organization. 300.30(b)(4)(v). 

Funds may be transferred from the nonfederal 

account to pay the nonfederal share of allocable 

expenses, but no other nonfederal-to-federal 

transfers are permissible. 102.5(a)(1)(i) and 

106.7.(f); 300.30(b)(3)(v)

Payments for FEA must be paid from the federal 

account or a special allocation account—separate from its federal/nonfederal allocation account. If the federal account pays the expenses, 

the committee may transfer funds from its Levin 

accounts to cover the allocable share. If an 

FEA allocation account is used, the committee 

must transfer funds from both its federal and 

Levin accounts to cover the allocable expenses. 

300.34(c). No other transfers of Levin funds are 

permissible. 300.34(b).

Two Accounts: Federal and 

Nonfederal

Only funds permissible under federal law may be 

deposited into the federal account. All federal 

activity must be transacted from that account or 

from an allocation account. 102.5(a)(1)(i).

The nonfederal account may be used for nonfederal activity and, if the committee chooses to 

raise Levin funds, for allocable federal election activity. The committee must demonstrate through . The committee must demonstrate through 

a reasonable accounting process that they have 

adequate Levin funds to cover any payments for 

the Levin component of allocable FEA that come 

from this combined account. 102.5(a)(3) and 

300.30(c)(3).

The account’s Levin fund receipts and disbursements are subject to the disclosure provisions of 

the FEC regulations. See chapter 8 for discussion 

of FEA and Levin funds.

One Federal Account

When only one account—a federal account—is 

used for federal and nonfederal activity, that account is considered a political committee under 

federal law. All contributions received by the 

committee are subject to federal prohibitions, 

limitations and solicitation requirements (see 

below), regardless of whether the funds are used 

to pay for federal, nonfederal or FEA. Similarly, 

all receipts and disbursements must be reported, 

including those that pertain to nonfederal activity and federal election activity. 102.5(a)(1)(ii). 

The committee’s nonfederal activity is subject to 

nonfederal law (see below).

Receiving and Depositing Federal 

Contributions

Contributions deposited in either a federal account or an account used for both federal and 

nonfederal activity must meet certain conditions. 

Contributions must be:

• Designated for the federal account;

• The result of a solicitation which expressly 

states that the contribution may be used wholly 

or in part in connection with a federal election; 

or

• From contributors who are informed that all 

contributions are subject to the prohibitions 

and limitations of the Act.

102.5(a)(2) and 300.30(a)(3)(ii).

See also “Solicitation Notices,” page17. 
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

5 Chapter 1

Soliciting Levin Funds

Levin funds must be raised under unique rules. For 

information of how to raise Levin funds, see page 

42.

Nonfederal Laws Apply

Disbursements made in connection with a nonfederal election are subject to relevant state or 

local law. Committees should therefore seek guidance from the appropriate election offi cials. See 

also Appendix E.

6. Committee

 Treasurer

Importance of Offi ce

A political committee must 

designate a treasurer on a Statement of Organization (FEC Form 

1). 102.1, 102.2 and 102.7. The 

treasurer is responsible for seeing that the committee complies 

with the Act. Before agreeing to . Before agreeing to 

become treasurer, the individual 

should understand the duties 

and liabilities of the offi ce.

Treasurer’s Duties

The treasurer is responsible for:

• Signing all reports and

 statements. 102.2(a),

 104.1(a) and 104.14(a).

• Filing complete and accurate

 reports and statements on

 time. 104.1(a) and 104.14

 (d).

• Monitoring contributions to

 ensure compliance with the

 Act’s limits and prohibitions.

 103.3(b).

• Depositing receipts in the

 committee’s designated bank 

 within 10 days. 103.3(a).

• Authorizing expenditures and 

appointing authorized agents (either orally or 

in writing) to receive contributions and make 

expenditures. 102.7(c) and 102.9.

• Keeping the required records of receipts and 

disbursements. 102.9 and 104.14(b).

Treasurer’s Liability

Treasurers are responsible for carrying out the 

duties listed above. For this reason, when the 

Commission brings an enforcement action against 

a political committee, the treasurer is named as a 

respondent along with the committee itself. Even 

when an enforcement action alleges violations 

that occurred during the term of a previous treasurer, the Commission usually names the current 

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Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

6 Chapter 1

sion will indicate whether the 

treasurer is named in his or her 

offi cial capacity, is alleged to 

have personally violated Commission law and regulation, or 

both.

Assistant Treasurer

The Commission urges every committee to designate 

an assistant treasurer on its 

Statement of Organization. An 

assistant treasurer may assume 

the treasurer’s duties when the 

treasurer is unavailable or has 

resigned. 102.7(a).

If the treasurer is unavailable 

to sign a report and there is no 

assistant treasurer, the committee may designate an assistant 

treasurer on an amended Statement of Organization. The assistant treasurer may sign both 

the amendment and the report. 

The amendment must be fi led 

within 10 days of the change. 

102.2(a)(2). (See page 9.)

New Treasurer

A committee must report a 

change in treasurer within 10 

days. 102.2(a)(2). (See page 

9.)

7. FEC Registration Form

Within 10 days of exceeding a registration 

threshold and triggering political committee 

status, a party committee must fi le a Statement 

of Organization (FEC Form 1). 102.1(d). Line-byline instructions are provided below, and with the 

form itself.

Line-by-Line Instructions

Line 1. Name and Address of the Committee 

Enter the full, offi cial name of the committee and 

its mailing address. This address is considered 

the committee’s address of record. All Commission correspondence will be sent to this address. 

102.2(a)(1)(i). In addition, a committee must 

include its internet web site, its fax number if 

available and, if required to fi le electronically, its 

e-mail address. 102.2(a)(i)(vii). 

A party committee’s name cannot include the 

name of any candidate. Furthermore, a party 

committee cannot use the name of any candidate 

in the name of a special communication, such as 

a fundraising project, unless the project name 

shows unambiguous opposition to the candidate, 

as explained on page 40. 102.14(a) and (b)(3).

COMMITTEE REGISTRATION (PART 2)

FEC Form 1 (Revised 02/2003) Page 2

6. Name of Any Connected Organization or Affiliated Committee

Mailing Address

Relationship

t t t CITY STATE ZIP CODE

Type of Connected Organization:

Corporation Corporation w/o Capital Stock Labor Organization

Membership Organization Trade Association Cooperative

5. TYPE OF COMMITTEE (Check One)

(a) This committee is a principal campaign committee. (Complete the candidate information below.)

(b) This committee is an authorized committee, and is NOT a principal campaign committee. (Complete the candidate

information below.)

(c) This committee supports/opposes only one candidate, and is NOT an authorized committee.

(National, State (Democratic,

(d) This committee is a or subordinate) committee of the Republican, etc.) Party.

(e) This committee is a separate segregated fund.

(f) This committee supports/opposes more than one Federal candidate, and is NOT a separate segregated fund or party

committee.

Name of

Candidate

Name of

Candidate

Candidate

Party Affiliation

State

District

Office

Sought: House Senate President

FE3AN042

X State Freedom

National Freedom Party

111 Leviathan Ave.

Washington DC 00000

Affiliated
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

7 Chapter 1

Line 2. Date 

Enter the date when the committee offi cially 

became a political committee—that is, the date 

when the committee exceeded a registration 

threshold.

Line 3. FEC Identification Number

Leave this space blank. The committee will be 

notifi ed of its FEC ID number by mail a few weeks 

after fi ling Form 1. From then on, the ID number 

should be included on reports, statements and 

other communications. 102.2(c).

If a committee must fi le a report before it has 

received an ID number, it should leave that space 

blank on the reporting form (FEC Form 3X, line 2).

Line 4. Is This Statement 

New or an Amendment? 

Check “new.” (Amendments are 

discussed under “Updating Registration Information,” page 9.)

Line 5. Type of Committee 

A party committee checks box 

(d) and identifi es itself as either 

a national, state or subordinate 

(local) committee of a particular 

party. 102.2(a)(1)(i). National 

and state party committee status is determined by the Commission through the advisory 

opinion process. 100.13 and 

100.14(a).

Line 6. Affiliated Committees

List the names and addresses 

of any affi liated committees. 102.2(a)(1)(ii). See 

102.2(b)(1)(ii)(B). Affi liated 

committees share the same 

limits on contributions received 

and made; see page 14.

• A local party committee lists 

the state party committee as 

an affi liate. Local committees 

are presumed to be under 

the direction and control of 

the state committee—and 

thus affi liated with the state 

committee—unless they can 

demonstrate otherwise. See 

110.3(b)(3).

• A state party committee state party committee lists all affi liated local lists all affiliated local 

party committees. (It should not list local party 

organizations.) See 110.3(b)(3).

• A national party committee national party committee lists any committees lists any committees 

it has established, fi nanced, maintained or 

controlled. However, a national committee 

does not list state or local party committees, 

since they are not considered affi liated with 

the national committee for purposes of the 

contribution limits. A party’s Senate and House 

FEC Form 1 (Revised 02/2003) Page 3

Write or Type Committee Name

8. Treasurer: List the name and address (phone number -- optional) of the treasurer of the committee; and the name and address of

any designated agent (e.g., assistant treasurer).

t t t CITY STATE ZIP CODE

Full Name

of Treasurer

Mailing Address

Title or Position

Telephone number

t

t t t CITY STATE ZIP CODE

Full Name of

Designated

Agent

Mailing Address

Title or Position

Telephone number

t

7. Custodian of Records: Identify by name, address (phone number -- optional) and position of the person in possession of committee

books and records.

t t t CITY STATE ZIP CODE

Full Name

Mailing Address

Title or Position

Telephone number

t

FE3AN042

John Responsible

111 Guide St.

City ST 00000

Treasurer

John Responsible

111 Guide St.

City ST 00000

Treasurer

Alice Second

111 Records St.

City ST 00000

Assistant Treasurer

Freedom Party State Committee

555 555 4451

555 555 4451

555 555 1234

COMMITTEE REGISTRATION (PART 3)
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

8 Chapter 1

Filing the Form

A party committee must fi le its Statement of Organization within 10 days of becoming a political 

committee. 102.1(d).

The Statement of Organization—and any 

amendments—are fi led both with the FEC and 

the fi ling offi ce of the state in which the committee has its headquarters, if that state has not received a waiver from the requirement to maintain 

copies of FEC statements and reports. See page 

59 for details.

campaign committees are also 

not considered affi liated with 

the national committee for 

purposes of the contribution 

limits.5 110.3(b)(1) and 

(b)(2).

Line 7. Custodian of Records

Enter the name and address of 

the person who has actual possession of the committee’s fi nancial records. The committee’s 

treasurer, assistant treasurer 

or another person (such as an 

accountant or bookkeeper) 

may serve as the custodian of 

records. 102.2(a)(1)(iii). (Recordkeeping rules are discussed 

in Chapter 10.)

Line 8. Treasurer and 

Assistant

List the name and mailing address of the treasurer. 

102.2(a)(1)(iv). As previously 

discussed in Section 4, the 

Commission urges all political 

committees to list an assistant 

treasurer as well.

Line 9. Banks or Other 

Depositories

List the name and address of 

each bank where the committee 

deposits funds. The committee 

must have at least one checking account for the 

deposit of receipts. 102.2(a)(1)(vi) and 103.2.

Signing and Dating the Form 

The treasurer or assistant treasurer must sign and 

date the form on the bottom line. 102.2(a)(1). 

The signer’s name must also be typed or printed 

where indicated.

FEC Form 1 (Revised 02/2003) Page 4

9. Banks or Other Depositories: List all banks or other depositories in which the committee deposits funds, holds accounts, rents

safety deposit boxes or maintains funds.

t t t CITY STATE ZIP CODE

Name of Bank, Depository, etc.

Mailing Address

t t t CITY STATE ZIP CODE

Name of Bank, Depository, etc.

Mailing Address

FE3AN042

Second National Bank

111 Feduciary St.

City ST 00000

COMMITTEE REGISTRATION (PART 4)

5 However, the Democratic and Republican national committees and their respective Senate campaign committees 

share the same limit on contributions to Senate campaigns. 

110.2(e). See page 27.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

9 Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Contributions and 

Other Sources of Funds

1. Types of Contributions

A contribution is defi ned as anything of value 

given for the purpose of infl uencing a federal 

election. 100.52(a). Contributions are subject 

to the limits and prohibitions of the Federal 

Election Campaign Act (the Act), as explained ), as explained 

later in this chapter. The most common types of 

contributions are:

• Gifts of money;

• Gifts of goods and services (in-kind 

contributions);

• Loans (other than bank loans meeting certain 

conditions); and

• Guarantees or endorsements of bank loans.

Gifts of Money

A contribution of more than $100 must be made 

by check or other written instrument. 110.4(c). 

(See also page 14.)

Proceeds from Sales

Sale of Fundraising Items and Tickets

The full purchase price of a fundraising item or 

ticket to a fundraising event is considered a contribution. For example, when a person buys a $50 

ticket to a fundraising dinner, the amount of the 

contribution is $50, regardless of how much the 

meal costs the committee.

Note: A person who buys several tickets to a 

fundraiser makes a contribution in the amount 

of the total purchase unless the contribution is 

intended as a joint contribution (see page 14).

Updating Registration 

Information

Whenever any of the information on the Statement of Organization (Form 1) changes, the 

committee must report the change within 10 days 

by fi ling an amended Form 1 or a letter containing 

the same information (for paper fi lers only).

The amount of information required on an 

amended Statement of Organization depends on 

whether the committee fi les on paper or electronically. If the committee fi les electronically, it must 

submit a fully completed Form 1.

In the case of paper fi lers, the Form 1 or letter 

needs to include only:

• The name and address of the committee (Form 

1, Line1);

• The date the change took effect (Line 2);

• The FEC ID number (Line 3);

• An indication that the statement is an 

amendment to the Statement of Organization 

(Line 4);

• The changed information (appropriate line 

number); and

• The name and signature of the treasurer (or 

assistant treasurer) and the date signed. 

102.2(a)(2).

8. Incorporating the 

Committee 

If a party committee incorporates for liability purposes only, its outgoing contributions and other 

expenditures are not subject to the prohibition 

on corporate contributions and expenditures. 

114.12(a).

The treasurer, however, remains liable for the 

committee’s compliance with the federal campaign 

fi nance law. Liability for debts is generally governed by state law. See AO 1995-7 and opinions 

cited therein. See also Karl Rove and Company v. 

Thornburgh Thornburgh, 39 F.3d 1273 (5th Cir. 1994). , 39 F.3d 1273 (5th Cir. 1994).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

10 Chapter 2

Sale of Committee Assets

When a committee sells or leases an asset, the full 

amount received from the purchaser is generally considered a contribution to the committee 

unless:

• The asset was originally purchased or developed 

for the committee’s own use (such as a mailing 

list) rather than as a fundraising item;

• The asset has an ascertainable market value; and

• The purchaser pays the usual and normal 

charge. (Any payment in excess of that amount 

is considered a contribution). See, for example, 

Advisory Opinions (AOs) 2003-19, 1992-40 

and 1991-34.

In some cases, a party may lease mailing lists 

developed for its own use and not for lease to 

others without receiving a contribution. First, the 

list must have an ascertainable fair market value 

in the market where it is leased. Second, the list 

must be leased at the usual and normal charge in 

a bona fi de, arm’s length transaction, and the list 

must be used in a commercially reasonable manner consistent with such an arms-length agreement. See AO 2002-14.

In-Kind Contributions

Definition

In-kind contributions include:

• Goods and services offered free of charge;

• Goods and services offered at less than the 

usual and normal charge (unless the discount is 

offered in the ordinary course of business—see, 

for example, AO 1994-10);

• Payments, by a third party, of committee bills; 

and

• Advances of personal funds. 100.52(d) and 

100.54.

Value

The dollar value of an in-kind contribution is subject to limits. The value is determined as follows:

• Goods (such as equipment, supplies, facilities 

and mailing lists) are valued at their normal 

purchase or rental price.

• Services (such as advertising, printing and 

consulting) are valued at the prevailing 

commercial rate at the time the services are 

rendered.

• Discounts are valued at the difference between 

the usual or normal charge and the amount paid 

by the committee. 100.52(d).

Advances of Personal Funds

General Rule

When an individual uses his or her personal funds 

(or personal credit card) to pay for a committee 

expense, that payment is generally considered an 

in-kind contribution from that individual, even if 

he or she is later reimbursed by the committee. 

116.5(b). For example, an in-kind contribution 

results if a committee staff member or volunteer 

pays for postage, offi ce supplies or campaign materials with his or her personal funds. (The special 

reporting rules that apply to advances of personal 

funds are explained on page 73.)

Travel Exceptions

When an individual uses personal funds to pay for 

his or her own travel expenses (transportation, 

food and lodging), the payments are not considered contributions if they fall under one of two 

exceptions:

• Exempt Travel. An individual may spend up to 

$2,000 per calendar year on his or her own 

transportation expenses for party-related travel 

without making a contribution, and a volunteer 

may spend unlimited amounts for his or her 

normal subsistence expenses (food and lodging) 

while volunteering. 100.79 and 116.5(b)(1).

• Reimbursed Travel. When individuals pay for 

their own travel expenses, and the expenses 

are not covered under the travel/volunteer 

exemptions (above), the payments are not 

considered contributions if the committee 

reimburses them within certain time limits: 30 

days after payment by cash or personal check; 

or 60 days after the closing date of the billing 

statement on which the charges fi rst appear, if 

the amount was charged to a personal credit 

card. 116.5(b)(2).

See page 73 for more information on reporting 

travel expenses.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

11 Chapter 2

1 A corporation, labor organization or trade association may pay the expenses of setting up, administering and soliciting contributions for its own political 

committee, called a separate segregated fund (or 

PAC). 114.1(a)(2)(iii). A party committee may accept 

contributions from a corporate or labor PAC registered with the FEC. 2 A narrow exception to the prohibition on corporate independent expenditures has been drawn for 

nonprofi t corporations meeting certain conditions. 

For more information, see the Campaign Guide for 

Corporations and labor Organizations. 3 The prohibition does not generally apply to activities related to state ballot measures. See First 

National Bank v. Bellotti National Bank v. Bellotti, 435 U.S. 765 (1978) and , 435 U.S. 765 (1978) and 

AO 1980-95.

Loans

A loan to a committee is a contribution to the 

extent that it remains outstanding. 100.52(b)(2). 

(Loans from banks are not contributions if they 

meet certain conditions; see page 14.)

Repayments made on a loan reduce the amount 

charged against the lender’s contribution limit. 

However, a loan that exceeds the lender’s limit is 

unlawful even if repaid in full.

Endorsements and Guarantees of 

Bank Loans

An endorsement or guarantee of a bank loan is 

a contribution. The amount guaranteed counts 

against the endorser’s or the guarantor’s limit 

only to the extent that the loan remains outstanding. Repayments on the loan proportionally 

reduce the amount charged against each endorser’s contribution limit.

If a loan agreement does not stipulate the 

amount for which each guarantor is liable, then 

the contribution of each guarantor is determined 

by dividing the amount of the loan by the number 

of guarantors. 100.52.(b)(3) and 100.82(a)-(d).

2. Prohibited Contributions

Acceptance of Prohibited 

Contributions

A political committee is prohibited from knowingly accepting a contribution that violates 

the prohibitions on contributions. 110.20(g), 

110.4(b)(1)(iv), 114.2(d) and 115.2(c). See also 

110.9.

For information on how to handle possibly illegal contributions, see page 19.

For information on how to handle in-kind donations from corporations and labor organizations 

for mixed federal/nonfederal activities, see page 

94.

Corporations and Labor 

Organizations

The Act prohibits corporations and labor organizations from making contributions or expenditures in connection with federal elections.1

114.2(b). This prohibition applies to all types of 

incorporated organizations, except political committees that incorporate for liability purposes.2

114.12(a).

National banks and federally chartered corporations, such as federal savings and loan associations, are prohibited from making contributions in 

connection with state and local as well as federal 

elections.3 114.2(a).

Contribution Reimbursements

A corporation or labor organization may not 

reimburse individuals who make contributions to 

a political committee, for example, through a bonus, expense account or other direct or indirect 

compensation. See 114.5(b)(1) and (c)(ii); see 

also 110.4(b).

Extensions of Credit

An extension of credit to a political committee by 

an incorporated commercial vendor is a prohibited contribution unless the credit is extended 

in the ordinary course of business with terms 

substantially similar to those given to nonpolitical clients of similar risk. A prohibited contribution can also result if a corporate vendor extends 

credit for longer than the normal practice in the 

vendor’s business or if the vendor fails to make a 

commercially reasonable effort to collect payment 

on the debt. 100.55 and 116.3(b) and (c).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

12 Chapter 2

Forgiveness or settlement of a debt owed by a 

political committee must comply with the debt 

settlement procedures explained on page 103.

Discounts

If an incorporated commercial vendor sells goods 

or services to a committee at a price below the 

usual or normal charge, a prohibited contribution results in the amount of the discount. 

100.52(d)(1). (There is, however, an exception 

for discounts offered by vendors of food and 

beverage; see page 22.) A reduced price is not 

considered a prohibited discount, however, if it is 

offered by the vendor in the ordinary course of 

business at the same amount charged to nonpolitical clients. See, for example, AOs 2004-5, 

1993-20 and 1992-24.

Compensation for Services

If a corporation or labor organization pays for 

services rendered to a committee, a prohibited 

contribution results. 100.54.

A corporation or labor organization may, however, provide free legal and accounting services 

to a party committee; see page 20 for more 

information.

Federal Government Contractors

Federal government contractors are prohibited 

from making contributions or expenditures in 

connection with federal elections. 115.2(a). For 

example, a contribution from a partnership with a 

government contract would be prohibited. 115.4. 

As another example, a contribution from the personal or business funds of an individual or a sole 

proprietor with a government contract would be 

prohibited. 115.5.

Foreign Nationals

Foreign nationals are prohibited from making 

contributions, donations or expenditures in connection with any election—federal, state or local. 

110.20. (See Appendix F for information on how 

this prohibition applies to state and local elections.) Also, foreign nationals may not donate 

to any party committee building fund or fund 

electioneering communications. 110.20. . 110.20.

The Act prohibits knowingly soliciting, accepting or receiving contributions or donations from 

foreign nationals. In this context, “knowingly” 

means that a person:

• Has actual knowledge that the funds solicited, 

accepted or received are from a foreign national;

• Is aware of facts that would lead a reasonable 

person to conclude that there is a substantial 

probability that the funds solicited, accepted or 

received are likely to be from a foreign national; 

or

• Is aware of facts that would lead a reasonable 

person to inquire whether the source of the 

funds solicited, accepted or received is a foreign 

national, but the person failed to conduct a 

reasonable inquiry. 11 CFR 110.20(a)(4) (i), 

(ii) and (iii). For examples of facts which may be 

pertinent, see 110.20(a)(5).

It is also unlawful to knowingly provide substantial assistance to foreign nationals making 

contributions or donations in connection with 

any U.S. election. 11 CFR 110.20(h). “Substantial assistance” refers to active involvement in 

the solicitation, making, receipt or acceptance 

of a foreign national contribution or donation 

with the intent of completing the transaction 

successfully. This prohibition includes, but is 

not limited to, individuals who act as conduits or 

intermediaries.

Definition of Foreign National

The following entities are considered foreign 

nationals and are therefore subject to the prohibition: foreign governments; foreign political 

parties; foreign corporations; foreign associations; 

foreign partnerships; and individuals with foreign 

citizenship unless they have “green cards” indicating they have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence. 110.20(a).

Safe Harbor Provision

In some cases, a committee may have questions 

regarding whether or not a contribution is from 

a foreign national. For example, the contributor 

may have a foreign address or bank. In this case, 

a committee has made reasonable assurances that 

the individual is not a foreign national if the committee obtains current and valid U. S. passport 

papers for the contributor. 110.20(a)(7).

The safe harbor cannot be relied on if the committee has actual knowledge the contribution is 

from a foreign national. 110.20(a)(7).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

13 Chapter 2

Domestic Subsidiaries of Foreign 

Corporations

A political committee may accept contributions 

from the PAC (separate segregated fund) of a 

United States corporation that is a subsidiary of a 

foreign corporation as long as:

• The foreign parent does not fi nance the PAC’s 

activities through the subsidiary; and

• No individual foreign national participates in the 

operation of the PAC (including the selection of 

persons to run the PAC) or makes any decisions 

regarding PAC contributions or expenditures. 

110.20(i). See also AOs 1990-8, 1989-29 and 

1989-20.

Contributions in the Name of 

Another

Contributions made by one person in the name 

of another person are prohibited, and no one 

may help someone make such a contribution. 

110.4(b).

3. Limits on Contributions 

Received by the 

Committee

Political committees are prohibited from accepting 

contributions that violate the contribution limits. 

110.9. For information on how to handle excessive 

contributions, see page 19.

State and Local Committees

A state party committee may receive up to 

$10,000 per calendar year from any person. 

110.1(c)(5). As explained later in this chapter, 

this limit is shared with local party committees 

within the state unless a local committee can 

demonstrate its independence.

National Party Committees

A national party committee may receive up to 

$15,000 per calendar year from a multicandidate committee and $25,000 per calendar 

year from non-multicandidate committees and 

individual contributors. 110.1(c)(1), 110.1(c)(3) 

and110.2(c)(3).

Biennial Limit for Individuals

In addition to the limits on individual contributions to a particular political committee, there 

is an overall biennial limit. During a two-year 

calendar year cycle, an individual may contribute 

a total of $95,000 to all political committees 

combined.4

This amount may not go entirely to any one 

type of political committee. Only $37,500 may 

be contributed to candidate committees. The 

remaining $57,500 may be contributed to PACs 

and party committees, but only $37,500 of that 

amount may go to state and local parties and 

PACs. The remaining $20,000 is reserved for 

national party committees. 110.5(b).

Candidate Limit May Apply

A contribution received by a party committee may 

count against the contributor’s contribution limit 

for the candidate if:

• The contributor knows that a substantial 

portion of his or her contribution will be given 

to or spent on behalf of a particular candidate; 

or

• The contributor retains control over the funds 

after making the contribution (for example, the 

contributor earmarks the contribution for a 

particular candidate). 110.1(h) and 110.2(h). 

See also Chapter 6.

Contributions from Affi liated PACs

Political action committees (PACs) that are affi liated with one another share the same set of 

contribution limits. For example, affi liated PACs 

may contribute a combined total of $10,000 per 

year to a state party committee (and its local affi liates). 110.3(a).

Contributions from Spouses

A husband and wife each have separate contribution limits, even if only one spouse has an income. 

110.1(i). A couple may make a joint contribution 

(part of which would be attributed to each), as 

explained below. 

4 Beginning in 2005, the biennial limit will be indexed to 

infl ation.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

14 Chapter 2

Joint Contributions

A joint contribution is a contribution that is made 

by more than one person using a single check 

or other written instrument. A joint contribution 

represents the personal funds of each donor, so 

each donor must sign either the check or an accompanying statement. 110.1(k)(1).

For the purposes of the contribution limits, a 

joint contribution is attributed equally to each 

donor, unless an accompanying statement indicates that the funds should be divided differently. 

110.1(k)(2). See “Excessive Contributions: Reattributions,” page 19.

Partnership Contributions

A contribution from a partnership counts against 

the partnership’s limit and also counts proportionally against the limits of each participating 

partner. 110.1(e). See Appendix C for more 

information.

$100 Limit on Cash Contributions

Contributions of currency from any one source 

are limited to $100. A cash contribution in excess 

of that limit must be returned to the contributor. 

110.4(c)(1) and (2).

$50 Limit on Anonymous 

Contributions

An anonymous contribution is limited to $50. 

Any amount in excess of $50 may not be used for 

federal election purposes. 110.4(c)(3).

4. Affi liation and the 

Contribution Limits

State and Local Committees

General Rule

A state party committee and local party committees within that state are presumed to be affi liated. That is, all contributions received and made 

by local party committees count against the state 

committee’s limits. 110.3(b)(3).

This means that the state committee and local 

committees may receive a maximum of $10,000 

per calendar year from any one contributor. 

110.1(c)(5). Similarly, the state committee and 

local committees together may not contribute 

more than $5,000 per candidate, per election, 

assuming the state party committee has qualifi ed 

as a multicandidate committee (see page 26). 

110.2(b)(1).

To avoid exceeding the contribution limits, a 

state party committee should set up a centralized 

monitoring system to ensure that all contributions made and received by local party committees are within the limits. 103.3(b) and 110.9.

Independent Local Committees

A local party committee may operate under its 

own separate set of contribution limits if the 

committee’s independence can be demonstrated. 

For more information, consult FEC rules at 

110.3(b)(3). See also AO 1978–9 and 

AO 1999-4.

National Party Committees

A national party committee operates under its 

own set of contribution limits. 110.3(b)(1)(i).

The Democratic and Republican parties each 

have three national party committees: a national 

committee, a House campaign committee and 

a Senate campaign committee. Each of these 

committees has a separate set of contribution 

limits, except for a special limit on contributions 

to Senate campaigns; see page 27. 110.2(e) and 

110.3(b)(2)(i), (ii).

5. Bank Loans and 

Overdrafts

Bank Loans

Unlike other loans, a loan or line of credit from a 

bank is not considered a contribution if the conditions set forth below are satisfi ed. If a loan fails 

to meet any of these conditions, it is considered a 

prohibited contribution from the lending 

institution.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

15 Chapter 2

Conditions

A committee may obtain a loan or line of credit 

from a bank provided that the loan:

• Bears the bank’s usual and customary interest 

rate for the category of loan involved;

• Is evidenced by a written instrument;

• Is subject to a due date or amortization 

schedule; and

• Is made on a basis which assures repayment. 

100.82(a)-(d).

Methods of Assuring Repayment

A loan is made on a basis which assures repayment if it is obtained using one or more of the 

following authorized methods of securing the 

loan:

Collateral.

A loan may be secured using assets of the committee, such as real estate, personal property, 

negotiable instruments and stocks. The fair market value of the assets pledged must, on the date 

of the loan, equal or exceed the amount of the 

loan and any senior liens. The committee must 

ensure that the bank has established a “perfected 

security interest” in the collateral (that is, taken 

steps to legally protect its interest in the collateral in the event that the committee defaults on 

the loan.) 100.82(e)(1).

Guarantees or Endorsements.

A loan may also be secured using guarantors or 

endorsers, who agree to repay the loan should 

the committee default. As previously stated, 

an endorsement or guarantee of a bank loan 

is considered a contribution by the endorser 

or guarantor and is therefore subject to the 

law’s prohibitions and limits on contributions. 

100.82(e)(1)(ii).

Pledge of Future Receipts.

A committee may pledge its future receipts as 

security for the loan; the amount of the loan must 

not exceed a reasonable estimate of anticipated 

receipts, based on documentation provided 

by the committee (such as cash fl ow charts or 

fundraising plans). Future receipts may include, 

for example, anticipated contributions or interest income. The loan agreement must require the 

committee to deposit the pledged funds into a 

separate account established for this purpose. 

If the account is established at a depository 

other than the lending institution, the committee must assign the account’s funds to the lender 

and notify the depository of the assignment. 

100.82(e)(2).

Other Methods of Assuring Repayment

The Commission may, on a case-by-case basis, 

approve other methods of assuring repayment. 

100.82(e)(3). A committee may want to request 

an advisory opinion from the Commission before 

entering into an alternative repayment agreement.

Overdrafts 

If a bank honors a check written by a committee 

with insuffi cient funds in its account, no contribution from the bank results as long as the overdraft:

• Is made on an account subject to automatic 

overdraft protection;

• Is subject to the usual and customary interest 

rate; and

• Is subject to a repayment schedule. 100.82(d). 

An overdraft that does not meet the above conditions is a prohibited contribution.

Overdraft protection secured through a line of 

credit is subject to the rules on bank loans.

6. Interest and Dividends

A committee may earn interest and dividends on 

funds invested in, for example, a savings account, 

money market fund or certifi cate of deposit. 

Interest and dividends are not contributions.

Disclosure of Bank on Statement 

of Organization

• Any bank where the committee deposits funds 

must be listed on the Statement of Organization 

(Form 1) or an amendment.

• Other institutions holding committee 

investments (such as stocks, bonds, mutual 

funds, etc.) are not disclosed on Form 1. Before 

disbursing such funds, however, the committee 

must transfer them to a checking account 

maintained at one of the committee’s campaign 

depositories. 102.10 and 103.3(a). See also 

AOs 1998-8, 1997-6, 1986-18 and 1980-39.

Taxes

A committee must generally pay taxes on interest 

and dividend income; see page 75 and 

Appendix F.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

16 Chapter 2

7. Other Sources of Funds

Off sets to Operating Expenditures

Offsets to operating expenditures, such as returns 

of deposits, refunds and rebates, are not considered contributions. Rebates, however, must be 

offered in the ordinary course of business and on 

the same terms and conditions as those offered 

to nonpolitical entities. Otherwise, the rebate 

may be considered a contribution—a prohibited 

contribution if the vendor is a corporation. See, 

for example, AOs 1986-22 and 1985-28.

Transfers from Other Party 

Committees

A party committee may receive unlimited transfers 

of permissible funds from other party committees 

and party organizations. A party organization 

making such transfers, however, may trigger federal registration. 102.6(a)(1)(ii), (iv) and (a)(2).

Transfers of Excess Funds

A candidate committee may transfer unlimited 

campaign funds to a party committee or organization. 113.2(c). Any nonfederal law that would 

prohibit such a transfer to a party organization is 

preempted by federal law. AO 1993-8.

Loan Repayments

If a committee makes a loan to another political 

committee or organization, the loan repayments 

received are not contributions but must be composed of permissible funds.

Any interest charged on the loan must also be 

paid with permissible funds. Interest payments are 

not considered contributions unless they exceed 

the prevailing interest rates. 100.52(b)(5).

(Remember that a loan to another political 

committee is subject to the contribution limits.)

Ballot Access Payments

Fees paid to a party committee as a condition of 

ballot access are not contributions. This exemption covers ballot access fees paid by federal candidates as a requirement of state law and those 

paid to state and subordinate party committees 

by delegates and delegate committees. Such fees . Such fees 

must be paid with permissible funds, except that 

individual delegates may use funds that are not 

subject to the limits. 100.90 and 110.14(c)(1)(i) 

and (2). See Appendix D for information on 

delegate activity.

Building Fund Donations

State, district and local party committees may 

accept unlimited funds donated specifi cally to 

defray the costs of constructing or purchasing 

a party offi ce building (but not to infl uence any 

particular federal election). Building fund donations are not considered contributions and are 

not subject to any limits or prohibitions, other 

than the prohibition against donations from 

foreign nationals.5 100.84, 114.1(a)(2)(ix) and 

300.35. (This exemption does not apply to to 

national party committees. 300.12(d).)

A party committee must deposit the donations 

in a nonfederal account, since they do not meet 

the requirements for deposit in a federal account 

(see page 3). 102.5(a)(2).

If nonfederal funds are used, they are subject 

to the limits and prohibitions of state law. State 

party committees may need to report such activity under state law. AOs 1993-9 and 1991-5.

Note that this exemption does not apply to 

funds used to pay rent, operating costs, property 

taxes or other administrative expenses of a party 

offi ce building. (See AOs cited above. See also 

AOs 2001-12 and 2001-01.)

Leasing a Portion of the Office Building

A state or local party committee may lease a portion of its offi ce building at the normal charge. If 

the building is purchased or constructed with any 

nonfederal funds, all rental income is nonfederal 

funds. If the building is purchased or constructed 

solely with federal funds, the income may be deposited in the federal account. 300.35(c).

8. State Tax Checkoff 

Funds and Other State 

Proceeds

State and local party committees in some states 

may receive funds derived from state tax checkoffs or fees paid for a state service (e.g., fees for 

personalized license plates). This section explains 

when these funds may be deposited in a federal 

account and, if so, when they are considered contributions rather than miscellaneous receipts.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

17 Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Fundraising 

Procedures

1. Solicitation Notices

Federal Election Purpose

Solicitations must inform solicitees that their contributions will be used in connection with federal 

elections or that they are subject to the limits 

and prohibitions of the Federal Election Campaign 

Act. 102.5(a)(2)(ii) and (iii).

Disclaimer Notice

Solicitations for the party committee must include 

a disclaimer stating who has paid for the communication and must contain the following information: 

If the communication is authorized by a 

candidate, candidate’s committee or agent of 

either entity, but paid for by any other person: 

The disclaimer must state the communication is 

paid for by the third party and is authorized by 

the candidate, authorized committee, or agent. 

Example: “Paid for by XYZ State Party Committee and authorized by Joe Smith for Congress.” 

110.11(b)(2). 

If the communication is not authorized by a 

candidate, authorized committee, or agent of 

either, the disclaimer must include who paid for 

the communication, the permanent street address, telephone number or web site address of 

the person paying for the communication and 

whether the communication was authorized by 

any candidate. 110.11(b). Example: “Paid for by 

the XYZ State Party Committee (www.XYZ.org) 

and not authorized by any federal candidate.” 

110.11(b)(3). 

For additional information concerning disclaimers, see page 48 or consult the FEC’s brochure 

“Special Notices on Political Ads and Solicitations.”

5 AO 1993-21 also determined that federal law preempted 

an Ohio law barring the party committee from depositing 

checkoff proceeds into an allocation account.

Deposit in Federal Account

As a general rule, if the funds in question are from 

permissible sources (e.g., individuals) rather than 

from persons prohibited from making contributions under federal law (e.g., corporations, labor 

organizations, foreign nationals), the funds may 

be deposited into a federal account. For example, 

in several advisory opinions, the Commission 

concluded that proceeds from state income tax 

checkoff programs (whereby individual taxpayers designate funds for political parties) and fees 

for personalized licenses plates were permissible 

funds and could therefore be deposited into a 

federal account. AOs 1993-21 (Ohio checkoff),5

1991-14 (Kentucky checkoff), 1983-15 (Virginia 

checkoff), 1982-17 (Indiana license plate fees), 

1980-103 (North Carolina checkoff) and 1978-9 

(Iowa checkoff).

In another opinion, AO 1988-33, a state party 

committee was allowed to deposit into its federal 

account ballot fees and party assessments paid to 

the state of Florida by federal candidates. However, because state law allowed nonfederal candidates to accept funds that would be considered 

prohibited or excessive under federal law, fees and 

assessments from nonfederal candidates could 

not be deposited into the federal account.

Treatment as Contributions

In the above cited advisory opinions, checkoff 

funds that did not increase the taxpayer’s liability 

or decrease his or her refund were not considered 

contributions. Nor were the personalized license 

plate fees. In these situations, the funds were 

considered miscellaneous receipts (reportable as 

“other receipts”—see page 67).

However, in AO 1983-15 (Virginia checkoff), 

the checkoff funds represented taxpayer refunds. 

Under those circumstances—where the money 

would otherwise be refunded to the taxpayer—

the funds were considered contributions if deposited into a federal account. Because the amount 

of each contribution was only $2 per taxpayer, 

the contributions were reportable as unitemized 

contributions from individuals (see page 66).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

18 Chapter 3

“Best Eff orts” Notice

Party committees and their treasurers must make 

“best efforts” to obtain, maintain and report 

the name, address, occupation and employer of 

each contributor who gives more than $200 in 

a calendar year. 102.9(d). In order to show that 

the committee has made “best efforts,” solicitations must specifi cally request that information 

and inform contributors that the committee is required by law to undertake best efforts to report 

it. 104.7(b)(1). For details, see “Treasurer’s Best 

Efforts,” page 52.

IRS Notice

Section 6113 of the Internal Revenue Code 

requires political committees whose gross annual 

receipts normally exceed $100,000 to include a 

special notice on solicitations informing solicitees 

that their contributions are not tax deductible. 

There are substantial penalties for failure to comply with this provision. Contact the IRS for more 

information (see Appendix F).

FCC Notice

Check with the Federal Communications Commission for information on required notices for political ads aired on radio or television (see 

Appendix F).

2. Forwarding 

Contributions

Time Limits

Any person who receives contributions for a 

party committee must forward the contributions, 

together with certain information about the 

contributors (see Chapter 6), to the committee 

treasurer within the following time periods:

• Contributions of $50 or less—within 30 days after 

receiving the funds.

• Contributions of more than $50—within 10 days 

after receiving the funds. 102.8(b). 1

No Commingling with Personal 

Funds

Contributions and other committee receipts must 

not be deposited in a personal account or otherwise commingled with personal funds. 102.15.

3. Treasurer’s Receipt

Deposit or Return Contributions 

Within 10 Days

Within 10 days of receipt by the treasurer, a contribution or other receipt must be deposited in 

the committee’s campaign depository or returned 

to the source (see footnote 1). 103.3(a).

Determining Legality

All contributions must be examined to make sure 

they are neither prohibited nor excessive. (This is 

the treasurer’s responsibility.) In order to determine whether a contribution exceeds the contributor’s limit, the contribution must be aggregated 

with any others made by the contributor to the 

committee or its affi liates during the calendar 

year. 103.3(b).

Contributions of questionable legality must be 

handled as described below.

4. Prohibited Fundraising 

Activity

501(c) and 527 Organizations

Party committees may not solicit funds for - or 

make or direct any contributions or donations to 

- the following organizations:

• 501(c) tax-exempt organizations that make 

expenditures or disbursements in connection 

with a federal election or for federal election 

activity. This prohibition applies even if the 

organization has only applied for tax-exempt 

status. 300.11(a)(1) and (2); 300.50(a)(1) 

and (2); and 300.51(a)(1) and (2); or

• 527 organizations that are not 1) political 

committees, 2) state or local party committees, 

3) authorized campaign committees of a state 

or local candidate or 4) political committees 

organized under state law that support 

only state and local candidates, and do not 

make any expenditures or disbursements in 

1 The receipt of a contribution by an authorized agent (that 

is, a person authorized by the treasurer to receive contributions and make expenditures for the committee – 102.9) 

is the equivalent of the treasurer’s receipt and triggers the 

10-day deposit period at 103.3(a). AO 1992-29.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

19 Chapter 3

connection with a federal election, including 

federal election activity (FEA). See chapter 8. 

300.11(a)(3); 300.37(a)(3); 300.50(a)(3); 

and 300.51(a)(3).

Certifi cation of 501(c) and 527 

Organizations

When determining whether a 501(c) or 527 

organization participates in FEA, the party committee may rely on a certifi cation by the organization. 300.11(c) and (d); 300.37(c) and (d); 

300.50(c) and (d); and 300.51(c) and (d). For 

more on the certifi cation requirements, see page 

31.

Federal Candidates and 

Nonfederal Fundraising

Federal candidates and offi ceholders may not 

raise funds for federal elections, including funds 

for FEA, outside the limits, prohibitions and 

reporting requirements of federal law. In addition, 

federal candidates/offi ceholders may raise funds 

in connection with nonfederal elections only in 

amounts and from sources that are consistent 

with state law and with the limits and prohibitions 

of the Act. Therefore, candidates may not help to 

raise nonfederal funds for state, district and local 

party committees. 300.61 and 300.62.

Exception for Fundraising Appearances

A federal candidate or offi ceholder may attend, 

speak at or be the featured guest at a state, 

district or local party committee fundraiser. Under 

these circumstances, the candidate may speak at 

the event without restriction or regulation, even if 

nonfederal funds are being raised. 300.64.

5. Handling Illegal 

Contributions

Depositing Questionable 

Contributions

Within 10 days of receiving a contribution that 

appears to be excessive or prohibited, the committee treasurer must either return the contribution or deposit it. 103.3(a).

If it is deposited, the treasurer must:

• Keep enough money in the committee’s account 

to cover the potential refund or establish a 

separate account for such contributions.

• Keep a record explaining why the contribution 

may be illegal and include this explanation 

on Schedule A if the contribution has to be 

itemized before its legality is established.

• In the case of an excessive contribution, obtain 

a redesignation or reattribution of the excessive 

portion or refund it to the contributor (see 

below).

• In the case of a possibly prohibited 

contribution, confi rm its legality or refund it 

(see below). 103.3(b)(1), (3), (4) and (5).

Excessive Contributions: 

Reattributions

In order to correct an excessive contribution, a 

treasurer may reattribute the excessive portion 

to another contributor, according to the steps 

described below. 110.1(k)(3).

When an excessive contribution is made via a 

written instrument with more than one individual’s 

name imprinted on it, but only has one signature, signature, 

the permissible portion is attributed to the signer 

and the excessive portion may be reattributed 

among the individuals whose names are imprinted 

on the written instrument, without obtaining a 

second signature, so long as the reattribution 

does not cause any contributor to exceed any 

other contribution limit (“presumptive attribution”). 11 CFR 110.1(k)(3)(ii)(B)(1).

Political committees making a “presumptive 

reattribution” must notify all contributors in 

writing or via e-mail within 60 days of the committee treasurer’s receipt of the check. At the 

time of notifi cation, the committee must offer the 

contributor who signed the check a refund of the 

excessive portion. 11 CFR 110.1(k)(3)(ii)(B)(2) 

and (3).

Example of Presumptive Attribution

A committee receives a $11,000 check that is 

drawn on a joint account but signed by only 

one account holder. The treasurer deposits the 

check and attributes $10,000 to the signer and 

$1,000 to the other account holder. Within 60 

days of receiving the original contribution, the 

treasurer sends a letter informing the contributors 

of the reattribution and of their right to a refund. 

Assuming neither contributor objects, the committee may now keep the full $11,000.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

20 Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

Other Committee 

Resources 

In addition to receiving contributions and other 

funds (see Chapter 2), party committees may 

receive goods and services without any contribution resulting. In many cases, no reporting is 

required.

1. Legal and Accounting 

Services

A party committee may receive, without limit, free 

legal and accounting services as long as:

• The services do not directly further the election 

of a specifi c federal candidate;

• The person paying for the service is the regular 

employer of the individual performing the 

service;

• The employer does not hire additional 

employees to free regular employees to perform 

the service; and

• The committee reports the value of the service 

(the amount paid by the employer), as well as 

the name of each person who performed the 

service and the date the service was provided. 

100.85, 104.3(h) and 114.1(a)(2)(vi).

If an individual personally volunteers legal or 

accounting services without compensation, the 

above restrictions do not apply. See "Personal 

Services," below.

2. Volunteer Activity

Personal Services

An individual may volunteer uncompensated 

personal services to a party committee without 

making a contribution. 100.74. Volunteer activity 

is not reportable.

Note, however, that if volunteers are, in fact, 

paid for their services by someone other than 

the party committee, the activity is no longer 

considered volunteering, and the payments result 

in in-kind contributions to the party committee. 100.54. Generally, if an individual provides 

services to a party committee during paid working 

If the written instrument does not have more 

than one name imprinted on it, the treasurer 

may ask the contributor whether the contribution was intended to be a joint contribution 

from more than one person. The treasurer must 

inform the contributor that he or she may instead request a refund of the excessive portion. 

110.1(k)(3)(ii)(A). The treasurer should also 

inform donors that a reattribution must be signed 

by each participating contributor.

Receive Reattribution or Make 

Refund

Within 60 days of receiving the original contribution, the treasurer must receive a proper attribution or refund the excessive portion. 103.3(b)(3) 

and 110.1(k)(3)(ii)(A)(2).

Prohibited Contributions

Questionable Source

If a committee treasurer deposits a contribution 

that appears to come from a prohibited source, 

he or she has 30 days from the date of the 

contribution’s receipt to:

• Confi rm the legality of the contribution; or

• Refund the contribution. 103.3(b)(1).

As evidence of legality, the treasurer should 

obtain a written statement from the contributor 

explaining why the contribution is legal. Alternatively, the treasurer may obtain an oral explanation by telephone and keep a record of the 

conversation. 103.3(b)(1).

Late Discovery Of Prohibited Contribution

If a treasurer discovers that a previously deposited contribution came from a prohibited source, 

he or she must refund the contribution within 30 

days of making the discovery. This situation might 

arise, for example, if the treasurer learned that a 

past contribution was made by a foreign national.

If the committee does not have suffi cient funds 

to refund the contribution when the illegality is 

discovered, the treasurer must use the next funds 

the committee receives. 103.3(b)(2).

6. Joint Fundraising 

Procedures

Party committees may engage in joint fundraising 

with other political committees and organizations. 

See Appendix B.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

21 Chapter 4

Corporate/Labor Volunteers

An employee, stockholder or member of a corporation or labor organization may make occasional, 

isolated or incidental use of the organization’s 

facilities for volunteer work on behalf of a party 

committee (or candidate), subject to the rules 

and practices of the organization. However, the 

volunteer may have to reimburse the corporation 

or labor organization. 114.9(a)(1) and (b)(1). 

The rules for this type of volunteer activity are 

discussed under “Use of Facilities by Employees, 

Stockholders and Members,” page 24.

3. Transportation Expenses

Unreimbursed Travel Expenses 

The rules described below apply only to an 

individual’s payments for his or her own travel 

expenses; if an individual uses personal funds to 

pay the travel expenses of another, an in-kind 

contribution results.

$2,000 Transportation Exemption 

An individual working for a party committee (including a paid staff member or a volunteer) may 

voluntarily spend up to $2,000 for unreimbursed 

transportation expenses on behalf of all political 

committees of the same party without making 

a contribution. Payments for transportation 

expenses that exceed $2,000 per year, however, 

are considered contributions—unless they are 

reimbursed by the party committee in a timely 

manner (see below). 100.79. 

Volunteer’s Exemption for 

Meals and Lodging 

A committee volunteer may spend unlimited 

amounts for his or her own meals and lodging 

without making a contribution, as long as the 

expenses are incidental to volunteer activity. 

100.79.

Reimbursed Travel Expenses 

When an individual working on behalf of the party 

committee pays transportation and subsistence 

expenses while traveling, no contribution will 

result if the committee reimburses the individual 

within the following time limits:

• If the expense was paid with cash or a personal 

check, within 30 days from the date the expense 

was incurred. 

hours, the employer makes a contribution to the 

committee. However, legal and accounting services, if they meet the conditions described in the 

above section, are an exception to this rule. For 

further exceptions, see 100.54(a)-(c).

Volunteer’s Living expenses

While volunteering, an individual may pay for 

normal subsistence expenses (meals and lodging) 

without making a contribution. These payments 

are not reportable. 100.79(b).

Activities in Home, Church, 

Community Room

Individuals, in the course of volunteering personal 

services, may use their homes–or the recreation 

room of the apartment complex where they 

live–for activities to support a party committee 

without making a contribution. Or volunteers may 

use a church or community room for party-support activities as long as the facility is regularly 

used for noncommercial purposes by members of 

the community, without regard to political affi liation. (A nominal fee paid by the individual for the 

use of a recreation or community room is not a 

contribution and is not reportable.) 100.75 and 

100.76.

For more information on political activity by religious organizations, contact the IRS tax exempt 

organizations division. See Appendix F.

Food, Drink, Invitations at Home 

Event

Individuals may volunteer to hold fundraising 

receptions or other types of party-support activities in their homes or in churches or community 

rooms. An individual may purchase food, beverages and invitations for the event without making 

a contribution as long as such spending does not 

exceed $2,000 per calendar year on behalf of all 

political committees of the same party. (A husband and wife may together spend up to $4,000 

per year.) Any amount spent in excess of $2,000 

per person, however, must be reported by the 

party committee as an in-kind contribution. (Otherwise, the activity is not reportable.) 100.77

Note that any expenses paid by a nonresident 

co-host of an activity are considered in-kind contributions to the party committee benefi ting from 

the event. Advisory Opinion (AO) 1980-63.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

22 Chapter 4

• If the expense was paid with a credit card, within 

60 days of the closing date on the credit card 

billing statement where the charge fi rst appears. 

Outside of these time limits, the payments are 

in-kind contributions. 116.5(b). See “Reporting 

Advances of Staff Funds” on page 73 for 

reporting rules. 

4. Vendor Discounts

A vendor of food or beverages (even if incorporated) may sell food and beverages to a party 

committee at a discount. The amount charged 

must at least equal the vendor’s cost for the 

items. If the value of the discount–the difference 

between the normal charge and the amount paid 

by the committee–does not exceed $2,000 per 

calendar year on behalf of all the committees of 

one political party, the discount is not considered 

a contribution. Discounts exceeding $2,000, 

however, must be reported as in-kind contributions by the party committee. A corporate vendor 

may not exceed the discount limit since corporate contributions are prohibited. 100.78 and 

114.1(a)(2)(v).

5. Corporate / Labor 

Communications

As previously explained, corporations and labor 

organizations are prohibited from using their 

treasury funds to make contributions or expenditures in connection with federal elections.1

However, subject to the restrictions described in 

this section, corporations and labor organizations 

are permitted to:

• Make election-related communications to their 

restricted class and the general public;

• Conduct voter drives aimed at their restricted 

class and the general public; and

• Allow candidates and party representatives to 

make campaign appearances at meetings or 

other functions of the organization.

• For more information on corporate and labor 

organization activity in connection with 

federal elections, see the Campaign Guide for 

Corporations and Labor Organizations.

Restricted Class Communications

vs. Public Communications

When communicating with its restricted class, a 

corporation or labor organization may expressly 

advocate the election or defeat of clearly identifi ed candidates and promote support for a particular political party. 114.1(a)(2)(i) and 114.3(c). 

The restricted class is generally composed of the 

organization’s executive and administrative personnel, noncorporate members, stockholders and 

the families of each group. 114.1(j).

A corporation or labor organization may also 

make election-related communications to the 

general public. However, these communications 

may not contain express advocacy, be electioneering communications or be coordinated with 

the candidate,2 and they are subject to further 

restrictions. FEC regulations list several types 

of permissible communications along with their 

restrictions.3 114.4. 

Registration and GOTV Activity

Subject to certain restrictions, a corporation or 

labor organization may conduct voter registration 

and get-out-the-vote drives. Voter drives directed 

to the restricted class are subject to fewer restrictions than those directed to the general public, as 

explained below.

Registration and GOTV Drives for Restricted 

Class

A corporation or labor organization may conduct 

voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives urging its restricted class to register with a particular 

party or to vote for particular candidates. Such 

a drive may include not only communications to 

the restricted class, but also transportation to 

the polls and other assistance. However, voter 

information and assistance may not be withheld 

on the basis of political preference. 114.3(c)(4).

1 There is a limited exception to this general rule. Certain 

nonprofi t corporations may fi nance independent expenditures and electioneering communications if the corporation 

meets the criteria in FEC rules. 114.10. For more information, see the Campaign Guide for Corporations and Labor 

Organizations.

2 As an exception, a corporation or labor organization may 

publicize its endorsement of a candidate through a press 

release and press conference as long as the disbursements 

are minimal. 114.4(c)(6).

3 The types of communications are: voting records, voter 

guides and the registration and voting communications that 

are listed below. A corporation or labor organization may 

also donate funds for candidate debates sponsored by nonprofi t corporations qualifi ed to stage debates. 114.4(f)(3); 

see also 110.13.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

23 Chapter 4

4 With respect to media access, candidates for the same 

offi ce (and representatives of separate parties) must be 

treated similarly. If the organization allows news coverage 

for one candidate or party, it must allow media coverage 

for appearances by other candidates for the same offi ce 

(or by other parties). The organization must also provide 

equal access to all representatives of the news media. 

114.3(c)(2)(iv) and 114.4(b)(1)(viii).

Registration and GOTV Communications / 

Voting Information for General Public

A corporation or labor organization may support 

or conduct voter registration and get-out-thevote drives aimed at the general public, but any 

communications that are part of the drive may 

not expressly advocate the election or defeat of 

a clearly identifi ed candidate (or candidates of a 

clearly identifi ed party), and the drive may not 

be coordinated with any candidate or party. For 

further restrictions, consult 114.4(d).

Voting Advertisements

A corporation or labor organization may pay for 

billboards, posters, television and radio ads and 

similar communications urging the general public 

to register or to vote provided the communications do not expressly advocate the election or 

defeat of any candidate (or candidates of a particular party). The preparation and distribution 

of registration and get-out-the-vote communications may not be coordinated with any candidate 

or party. Any such coordination will convert the 

activity into a prohibited in-kind contribution. 

114.4(c)(2).

Voter Information Prepared by Election Offi cials

A corporation or labor organization may distribute (or reprint and distribute) to the general 

public offi cially prepared registration and voting information, such as instructional materials, 

registration-by-mail forms and absentee ballots. 

(The organization may also donate funds to state 

or local government agencies to help defray printing and distribution costs.) When distributing the 

material, the organization may not expressly advocate the election or defeat of a clearly identifi ed candidate or candidates of a clearly identifi ed 

party or encourage registration with any particular party. Any coordination with a candidate or 

party will convert the activity into a prohibited 

in-kind contribution. 114.4(c)(3).

Appearances by Party 

Representatives and Candidates

Representatives of a political party, and candidates and their representatives, may promote 

their party or candidacy at a meeting, convention 

or other event sponsored by a corporation or labor organization. Different rules govern this activity depending on whether the audience includes 

the restricted class only or whether it includes all 

of the organization’s employees.

Appearance Before Restricted Class

In this type of appearance, the audience is limited 

to the organization’s restricted class and to employees necessary to administer the event, guests 

being honored or participating in the event and 

members of the news media.4 The corporation or 

labor organization may express support for the 

party or candidate and suggest that audience 

members make contributions to the candidate or 

party. However, only the party or candidate representative may collect contributions. 114.3(c)(2).

Appearances Before Restricted Class and 

Employees

In this second type of appearance, the audience may be expanded to include all of the 

organization’s employees and their families as well 

as guests being honored or participating in the 

event and members of the news media. The party 

or candidate representative may solicit contributions or ask that contributions be designated for 

the candidate or party through the organization’s 

separate segregated fund. The speaker may also 

leave campaign materials or return envelopes for 

members of the audience. However, no contributions may be collected at the event.

Further restrictions apply to the sponsoring 

corporation or labor organization. The organization—and its offi cials, employees, members 

and separate segregated fund—may not solicit 

contributions or expressly advocate the election 

or defeat of any candidate in conjunction with the 

event; nor may they encourage audience members 

to do so.

The organization must, if requested, provide 

the same opportunity to appear before the restricted class to representatives of other political 

parties or, in the case of a candidate speaker, to 

other candidates running for the same seat. No 

candidate or party representative may be favored 

with more time or a better location than other 

candidates or parties unless the organization can 

prove that it would be impracticable to provide 

similar times or locations. 114.4(b).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

24 Chapter 4

6. Use of Corporate/Labor 

Facilities and Resources

When making use of the facilities and resources 

of a corporation or labor organization, party 

committees–and individuals acting on their 

behalf–must be sure to make required reimbursements and advance payments according to the 

guidelines below. Otherwise, the activity results in 

a prohibited in-kind contribution from the corporation or labor union to the party committee.

Note also that when someone pays for a party 

committee’s use of corporate/labor facilities, the 

payment is considered a reportable in-kind contribution to the party committee.

Use of Facilities by Employees, 

Stockholders and Members as 

Volunteers

When an employee, stockholder or member of a 

corporation or labor organization uses the organization’s facilities for volunteer work in connection 

with federal elections–for example, by using an 

offi ce phone for political work–the volunteer may 

need to reimburse the organization for the use of 

the facilities.

No Reimbursement Required

If the volunteer activity is limited to “incidental 

use” of the facilities—one hour a week or four 

hours a month—the volunteer does not have 

to reimburse the organization other than for 

increased overhead or operating costs (e.g., 

long-distance telephone charges). 114.9(a)(1) 

and (b)(1). (Exception: see “Use of Facilities to 

Reproduce Materials,” below).

Reimbursement Required

When use of the facilities exceeds “incidental 

use,” the volunteer must reimburse the organization the usual and normal charge within a 

commercially reasonable time. 114.9(a)(2) and 

(b)(2).

Use of Facilities by Others

General Rule

If a person other than an employee, stockholder 

or member uses the facilities of a corporation 

or labor organization in connection with federal 

elections, the user must reimburse the organization within a commercially reasonable time and 

at the usual and normal charge. Facilities used for 

these purposes might include offi ce space, telephones, computers and furniture. 114.9(d).

Meeting Rooms

Meeting rooms are treated the same as other 

facilities (e.g., reimbursement at the usual and 

normal charge within a commercially reasonable 

time) unless the corporation or labor organization 

customarily makes its meeting rooms available to 

clubs, civic organizations or other groups. In that 

case, the organization may make the rooms available to political committees on the same terms 

given to other groups (including free use of the 

facilities). The rooms must also be made available 

to any other candidates or political committees, 

upon request, on the same terms. 114.13.

Use of Facilities to Reproduce 

Materials

If anyone—including an employee, stockholder 

or member—uses the facilities of a corporation 

or labor organization to produce materials in connection with federal elections, the individual must 

reimburse the organization within a commercially 

reasonable time at the usual and normal charge 

for producing such materials. 114.9(c).

Use of Personnel, Food Services 

and Certain Mailing Lists

A corporation or labor organization is prohibited 

from conducting fundraising activity in connection with federal elections (other than for the 

organization’s own separate segregated fund). It 

may, however, allow its personnel, food services 

and certain mailing lists to be used for fundraising purposes if it receives payment in advance 
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

25 Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

Contributions to 

Candidates and 

Committees

1. Overview

Contributions to infl uence federal elections are 

subject to the limits (and prohibitions) of the 

Federal Election Campaign Act. A contribution 

that exceeds the limits is a violation of the Act. 

110.9.

Types of Contributions

The contributions made by a political committee 

commonly take the form of:

• Gifts of money, including the full purchase price 

of fundraising items or tickets to fundraisers;

• In-kind contributions (gifts of goods or 

services); 

• Loans (other than bank loans); and

• Guarantees and endorsements of bank loans.

See Chapter 5 for more details.

Affi liation

Party committees within one state are generally 

subject to the state party’s limits on contributions 

received and made (see page 14).

2. Contributions to 

Candidates

Limits on Contributions to 

Candidates

As a general rule, the limits on contributions to 

federal candidates and candidate committees apply separately to each election in which a candidate participates—primary, runoff or general.

at the fair market value of the goods or services. 

114.2(f)(1) and (2). Specifi cally, advance payment is required for:

• The use of corporate or labor personnel 

directed to carry out fundraising activities as 

part of their job (though employees may not be 

coerced into providing on-the-job fundraising 

services if they do not wish to perform them);

• The use of catering or other food services 

provided by a corporation or labor organization; 

and

• The use of an organization’s list of clients, 

customers, vendors or other persons outside 

the restricted class for purposes of soliciting 

contributions or distributing invitations. 

114.2(f)(2)(i)(A), (C) and (E).

However, if a corporation is providing the 

services (such as catering or personnel services) 

in its ordinary course of business as a commercial 

vendor, payment does not have to be made in advance as long as: (1) the payment is at the usual 

and normal charge; and (2) the payment schedule 

conforms to normal business practice. Otherwise 

a prohibited contribution results. 100.52(d)(1) 

and (2); 114.2(f)(1); 116.3; see also, for example, 

AOs 1994-33 and 1991-18.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

26 Chapter 5

$2,000 Per Election1

A committee may contribute up 

to $2,000 to a candidate, per 

election, unless it has qualifi ed 

as a multicandidate committee. 

110.1(b)(1).

$5,000 Per Election: 

Multicandidate Status

A multicandidate committee 

may contribute up to $5,000 

per candidate, per election (see 

below). 110.2(b)(1).

National Committee’s 

$35,000 Limit for Senate 

Candidates1

A national party committee 

is entitled to contribute up 

to $35,000 to a U.S. Senate 

candidate. Unlike the per-election limits, this limit applies to 

contributions made during the 

entire campaign period (the 

primary and general elections). 

The Democratic and Republican 

national committees share this 

limit with their parties’ national 

Senate campaign committees. 

110.2(e).

Multicandidate 

Status

Qualification Criteria

To qualify as a multicandidate committee—with 

its higher per-candidate contribution limit—a 

political committee must:

• Be registered as a political committee for at 

least six months;

• Receive contributions (of any amount) from at 

least 51 contributors; and

• Make contributions (of any amount) to at least 

fi ve federal candidates. 100.5(e)(3).

There is no time limit for satisfying criteria two 

and three.

A state party committee need satisfy only the 

fi rst two criteria in order to qualify as a multicandidate committee.

Qualifying by Affiliation

A party committee that is affi liated with a qualifi ed multicandidate committee is automatically 

entitled to share that committee’s $5,000 per 

candidate, per election, contribution limit (since 

affi liated committees share the same limits on 

contributions received and made). AOs 1983-19 

and 1980-40. For example, a newly registered 

local party committee automatically qualifi es as a 

multicandidate committee if the state party committee has already achieved multicandidate status. 

The local committee should fi le Form 1M along 

with its Statement of Organization (Form 1).

1 Beginning in 2005, this fi gure will be indexed for infl ation.

Multicandidate Status (Form 1M)

(b) Contributors: The committee received a contribution from its 51st contributor

on:__________________.

(c) Registration: The committee has been registered for at least 6 months. FEC FORM 1 was

submitted on: ___________________.

(d) Qualification: The committee met the above requirements on: __________________.

TYPE OR PRINT NAME OF TREASURER DATE

I certify that I have examined this Statement and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct and complete.

SIGNAT

NOTE: Submission of false, erroneous, or incomplete information may subject the person signing this Statemen to the penalties of 2 U.S.C. §437g.

ANY CHANGE IN INFORMATION SHOULD BE REPORTED WITHIN 10 DAYS.

For further information contact:

Federal Election Commission, Washington, DC 20463

Toll-free 800-424-9530

Local 202-694-1100

NOTIFICATION OF MULTICANDIDATE STATUS (See reverse side for instructions)

This form should be filed after the Committee qualifies as a multicandidate committee.

1. (a) NAME OF COMMITTEE IN FULL

Name Office Sought State/District Dat e

(i)

(ii)

(iii )

(iv )

(v )

I certify that one of the following situations is correct (complete line 4 or 5) :

4. STATUS BY AFFILIATION: The committee submitted its Statement of Organization (FEC FORM 1)

on __________________ and simultaneously qualified as a multicandidate committee through its

affiliation with:

Committee Name: ____________________________________

FEC Identification Number: ____________________________________ .

5. STATUS BY QUALIFICATION:

(a) Candidates: The committee has made contributions to the five (5) federal candidates listed

below (ONLY State party committees may leave this blank.):

FEC FORM 1M (Revised 1/2001)

2. FEC IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

3. TYPE OF COMMITTEE (check one)

STATE PARTY

OTHER

(b) Number and Street Address

(c) City, State and ZIP Code

FE1AN048.PDF

Flatpoint, ST 00000

C00300002

X

Local Freedom Party

111 Grassroots St.

04/05/2004

Freedom Party State Committee

C00300001

Larry Halladay 04/05/2004

TURE OF TREASURER

h signing this Statement
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

27 Chapter 5

Contribution Limits

Donors Recipients

Individual

Candidate 

Committee

PAC1 State, District and 

Local Party Committee2

National Party 

Committee3

Special Limits

$2,000* 

per election4

$5,000 

per year

$10,000 per year 

combined limit

$25,000* 

per year

State, District

and Local

Party

Committee

$5,000 

per election

combined limit

$5,000 

per year

combined limit

Unlimited transfers 

to other party committees

National Party

Committee

$5,000 

per election

$5,000 

per year Unlimited transfers 

to other party committees

$35,000* 

to Senate candidate

per campaign6

PAC

Multicandidate7

$5,000 

per election

$5,000 

per year

$5,000 

per year

combined limit

$15,000 

per year

PAC

Not 

Multicandidate

$2,000* 

per election

$5,000 

per year

$10,000 per year 

combined limit

$25,000* 

per year

* These limits will be indexed for infl ation.

1 These limits apply both to separate segregated funds (SSFs) and political action committees (PACs). Affi liated 

committees share the same set of limits on contributions made and received.

2 A state party committee shares its limits with local and district party committees in that state unless a local or 

district committee's independence can be demonstrated. These limits apply to multicandidate committees only.

3 A party’s national committee, Senate campaign committee and House campaign committee are each considered 

national party committees, and each have separate limits, except with respect to Senate candidates—see Special 

Limits column.

4 Each of the following is considered a separate election with a separate limit: primary election, caucus or convention 

with the authority to nominate, general election, runoff election and special election.

5 No more than $37,500 of this amount may be contributed to sate and local parties and PACs.

6 This limit is shared by the national committee and the Senate campaign committee.

7 A multicandidate committee is a political committee that has been registered for at least six months, has received 

contributions from more than 50 contributors and—with the exception of a state party committee—has made 

contributions to at least fi ve federal candidates.

Biennial limit of

$95,000* 

($37,500 to all 

candidates and

$57,5005 to all

PACs and parties)
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

28 Chapter 5

Multicandidate Status Notification: FEC 

Form 1M

Once a committee qualifi es as a multicandidate 

committee, it must certify its status by fi ling Form 

1M within 10 days.2 102.2(a)(3).

Each affi liated committee must fi le its own Form 

1M. 

Multicandidate Status Notification: FEC 

Form 3X

A committee must also indicate that it has qualifi ed as a multicandidate committee on Form 3X 

(see page 82).

Written Notice to Recipient Candidates

When making contributions, a multicandidate 

committee must give written notice of its qualifi ed status as a multicandidate committee to 

recipient candidate committees. 110.2(a)(2). For 

convenience, committees may choose to print the 

statement on their checks, letterhead or other 

appropriate materials.

In-Kind Contributions

Value

The amount of an in-kind contribution counts 

against the contribution limits in the same way as 

a gift of money. 100.52(d). (See page 10 for information on valuation of in-kind contributions.)

The donor committee needs to notify the 

recipient candidate committee of the amount of 

an in-kind contribution. The recipient needs this 

information in order to monitor the donor’s aggregate contributions and to report the correct 

amount.

Allocation Among Candidates3

When an in-kind contribution is made on behalf 

of more than one candidate, the amount must be 

allocated among the candidates in proportion to 

the relative benefi t each is expected to receive. 

The allocated amount to each candidate is the 

amount of the committee’s contribution.

In the case of a fundraiser held on behalf of 

several candidates, the portion of the costs allocated as an in-kind contribution to a particular 

candidate is based on the ratio of the funds 

received for that candidate to total funds received 

for all candidates.

Similarly, in the case of a publication or broadcast supporting several candidates, the allocation 

is based on the ratio of space or time devoted 

to each candidate to total space or time for all 

candidates. 104.10(a); 106.1(a) and (b).

Note that expenses for opinion polls are subject to the allocation rules at 106.4. For more on 

allocation, see chapter 13.

Earmarked Contributions

A party committee may receive earmarked contributions, that is, contributions that the contribu- , that is, contributions that the contributor directs be given to a specifi c candidate. The 

contribution does not count against the party 

committee’s limit for the candidate unless it exercises direction or control over the contributor’s 

choice of candidate. 110.6(d).

Chapter 6 explains the rules for transmitting 

and reporting earmarked contributions.

Supporting Nonfederal 

Candidates

Contributions to nonfederal candidates are subject to relevant state and local law. See page 122.

3. How the Candidate 

Limits Work

House and Senate Candidates

As explained earlier, the limits on contributions 

to U.S. House and Senate candidates apply 

separately to each election in which a candidate 

participates. In House and Senate races, each 

primary election, general election and runoff is 

considered a separate election with a separate 

limit. A special election—which may be a primary, 

general or runoff—also counts as a separate election for the purposes of the contribution limits. 

100.2, 110.1(j)(1) and 110.2(i)(1).

2 Committees that notifi ed the FEC of their multicandidate 

status on Form 3X prior to January 1, 1994, do not have to 

fi le Form 1M.

3 These allocation rules also apply to coordinated party 

expenditures and exempt party activities.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

29 Chapter 5

Party Caucus or Convention

A party caucus or convention constitutes a 

separate election only if it has the authority 

under state law to select a nominee for federal 

offi ce (e.g., Utah and Connecticut). Otherwise, 

there is no separate limit for a caucus or convention; it is considered part of the primary election. 

100.2(e). See also, for example, AOs 2004-20, 

1992-25, 1986-17 and 1982-49.

Candidates Not Running in an Election

A candidate is entitled to receive contributions 

for a particular election only if he or she seeks offi ce in that election. Thus, a candidate who loses 

the primary (or otherwise does not participate 

in the general election) does not have a separate 

limit for the general. 102.9(e), 110.1(b)(3)(i) and 

110.2(b)(3)(i).

Unopposed Candidates

A candidate has a separate contribution limit for 

an election in which he or she is running even if:

• The candidate is unopposed;

• A primary or general election for a particular 

offi ce is not held because the candidate is 

unopposed; or

• The general election is not held because the 

candidate received a majority of votes in the 

previous election. (The date on which the 

election would have been held is considered 

the date of the election.) 110.1(j)(2) and (3); 

110.2(i)(2) and (3).

Presidential Candidates

All Presidential primary elections held during an 

election year are considered one primary election for the purposes of the contribution limits 

for Presidential candidates. 110.1(j)(1) and 

110.2(i)(1). A multicandidate committee, therefore, may give only $5,000 to a Presidential 

candidate’s primary campaign, regardless of how 

many separate state Presidential primaries the 

candidate participates in.

In the general election, contributions to the 

campaign of a Democratic or Republican nominee 

receiving public funding are not permitted. Thus 

state and local parties must be careful that their 

activities do not constitute a contribution. However, contributions may be made to the candidate’s compliance fund, as explained on page 39. 

9003.3(a)(2).

General election contributions to the Presidential nominee of a nonmajor party are subject to 

the $2,000 limit or, in the case of multicandidate 

committees, the $5,000 limit. See also page 40. 

110.1(j)(1) and 110.2(i)(1).

4. Designating 

Contributions to 

Candidates

Designated Contributions

The Commission encourages committees, when 

contributing to candidates, to designate their 

contributions in writing for a particular election 

(for example, primary or general). The designation may be made either on the contribution 

check or in a signed statement accompanying 

the contribution. 110.1(b)(2)(i), (b)(4) and 

110.2(b)(2)(i), (b)(4).

Undesignated Contributions

An undesignated contribution automatically 

counts against the limits for the next scheduled 

election. 110.1(b)(2)(ii) and 110.2(b)(2)(ii). 

Therefore, if a committee wishes to make a contribution for any election other than the next one, 

the contribution must be designated in writing, as 

explained below.

When Designation Is Required

Future Elections 

A written designation is required when a committee wants a contribution to apply toward a future 

election other than the next one. For example, 

a committee may make a contribution to a 

candidate’s general election campaign before the 

primary election has taken place, but the committee’s check (or an accompanying statement) 

must say “General” in order to count toward the 

general election limit.

Past Elections (Debt Retirement)

A committee must similarly designate a contribution for the appropriate election when making a 

contribution to retire a candidate’s debt from a 

past election campaign. The committee should be 

certain that the contribution, when aggregated 

with other contributions from the committee for 

that same election, does not exceed the committee’s per-election limit.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

30 Chapter 5

The candidate committee may accept the 

contribution only if the campaign has net debts 

outstanding outstanding with respect to the designated with respect to the designated 

election on the day it receives the contribution. 

110.1(b)(3)(i) and (iii) and 110.2(b)(3)(i) 

and (ii).

Eff ect of Date Made

Designated Contributions

A candidate may always accept a designated 

contribution if it is made before the designated 

election, regardless of whether the candidate has 

outstanding debts from that election. However, 

a designated contribution is subject to the net 

debts outstanding rule, described above, if it is 

made after the election for which it is designated. 

110.1(b)(3)(ii) and (iii) and 110.2(b)(3)(i) 

and (ii).

Undesignated Contributions

A committee may make an undesignated contribution on or before the day of the election 

regardless of whether the candidate has debts, 

even if the candidate does not receive the check 

until after the election has passed. An undesignated contribution made after the election has 

passed, however, must be applied to the donor’s 

limit for the next election. 110.1(b)(2)(ii) and 

110.2(b)(2)(ii). For the purposes of the per-election limits, then, it is important to distinguish the 

date a contribution is made from the date it is 

received by a candidate.

Determining the Date Made

The date a contribution is made is the date when 

the committee relinquishes control of the funds. 

In practice this means that:

• An in-kind contribution is made on the date is made on the date 

that the goods or services are provided to the 

recipient committee.

• A mailed contribution is made on the date of 

the postmark.

• A hand-delivered contribution is considered 

made on the date it is delivered to the campaign 

committee or to an agent of the campaign (such 

as the candidate). 110.1(b)(6) and 110.2(b)(6).

Redesignation

A candidate committee may ask a committee to 

redesignate a contribution (or a portion of it) for 

a different election. Redesignation permits the 

donor to remedy an excessive contribution so 

that the excessive portion counts against a different election limit. 110.1(b)(5) and 110.2(b)(5). A 

committee may comply with a request for redesignation by returning a signed statement redesignating the contribution. The candidate committee 

must receive the redesignation within 60 days of 

its receipt of the original contribution. Otherwise, 

the candidate must refund the excessive portion 

to the committee. The committee may always 

request a refund from the candidate instead 

of providing the redesignation. 103.3(b)(3), 

110.1(b)(5)(ii) and 110.2(b)(5)(ii).

5. Contributions to PACs

In addition to contributing directly to candidate 

committees, a party committee may support PACs 

and other unauthorized committees, that is, committees that are not authorized committees of 

candidates.

Limits on Contributions to 

Unauthorized Committees

General Rule

A party committee may make contributions of up 

to $5,000 per calendar year to a PAC or other 

unauthorized committee. 110.1(d) and 110.2(d).

Candidate Limits May Apply

A contribution to an unauthorized committee 

may nevertheless count against the contributing 

committee’s limit for a candidate if:

• The recipient committee is a single-candidate 

committee (i.e., an unauthorized committee that (i.e., an unauthorized committee that 

supports only one candidate);

• The contributing committee knows that a 

substantial portion of its contribution will be 

given to or spent on behalf of a particular 

candidate; or

• The contributing committee retains control over 

the contribution. 110.1(h); 110.2(h).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

31 Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Earmarked 

Contributions

An earmarked contribution is one which the 

contributor directs (either orally or in writing) 

to a clearly identifi ed candidate or candidate’s 

committee through an intermediary or conduit. 

Earmarking may take the form of a designation, 

instruction or encumbrance and may be direct or 

indirect, express or implied. 110.6(b)(1).

1. Conduits

Who Is A Conduit

Anyone who receives and forwards an earmarked 

contribution to a candidate committee is considered a conduit or intermediary. 110.6(b)(2). (The 

terms “conduit” and “intermediary” are interchangeable; “conduit” will be used in the remainder of this chapter.)

Political committees (such as party committees 

and PACs), unregistered organizations (such as 

party organizations), individuals and partnerships 

are among those who may act as conduits for 

earmarked contributions.

Persons Not Considered Conduits

For the purposes of the earmarking rules, certain 

individuals and organizations are not considered 

conduits even though they may participate in 

activities to raise money for a candidate. These . These 

persons include:

• An employee or full-time volunteer working for a 

candidate committee;

• An individual who occupies a signifi cant position 

in a candidate’s campaign and who is expressly 

authorized to raise money on behalf of the 

candidate;

• A committee affi liated with the candidate with the candidate 

committee; 

• A fundraising representaive conducting a joint 

fundraiser with the candidate committee; and

• A commercial fundraising fi rm retained by the 

candidate committee. 110.6(b)(2)(i).

Contributions to Delegates and 

Delegate Committees

The limits on contributions to delegates and delegate committees are discussed in Appendix D. are discussed in Appendix D.

6. Prohibited 

Contributions

Party committees may not make, solicit or direct 

any contributions or donations outside the limits 

and prohibitions of federal law to the following 

organizations:

• 501(c) tax-exempt organizations which make 

expenditures or disbursements in connection 

with a federal election or for federal election 

activity. This prohibition applies if the 

organization has only applied for tax-exempt 

status;

• 527 organizations which are not political 

committees, state or local party committees or 

authorized campaign committees of a state or 

local candidate. 300.11(a). See also McConnell 

v. FEC, 124 S.Ct. 619 at 681-682. , 124 S.Ct. 619 at 681-682.

However, state and local party committees may 

make or direct donations to a state political committee that supports only state and local candidates, and does not make any expenditures or 

disbursements for federal election activity (FEA). 

See Chapter 8. 300.37(a)(3)(iv)

501(c) Certification

When determining if a 501(c) organization makes 

expenditure or disbursements in connection with 

federal elections or for federal election activity, a 

party committee may rely on a certifi cation by the 

organization if it:

• Is a signed written statement by an authorized 

representative of the organization who has 

knowledge of the organization’s activities;

• States that within the current election cycle 

the organization has not made, and does 

not intend to make any such expenditures or 

disbursements; and

• States that the organization does not intend to 

pay debts incurred in the past election cycle 

from such expenditures or disbursements.

If the party committee or any of their agents or 

entities knows the certifi cation to be false, it may 

not be relied upon. 300.11(c)-(e).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

32 Chapter 6

Prohibitions Apply

No corporation, labor organization or other entity 

prohibited from making contributions in connection with federal elections may act as a conduit 

for an earmarked contribution. 110.6(b)(2)(ii).

Furthermore, no individual may receive a contribution on behalf of a candidate (as a conduit 

or otherwise) while acting as the representative 

of a corporation, labor organization or other 

entity prohibited from making contributions.1

110.6(b)(2)(i)(A) and (E). See also Advisory 

Opinion (AO) 1986-4.

2. Contribution Limits

Contributor’s Limit

An earmarked contribution counts against the 

contributor’s contribution limit for the recipient 

candidate. 110.6(a).

Conduit’s Limit

Direction or Control

The conduit’s limit is affected when the conduit 

exercises direction or control over the contributor’s choice of the recipient candidate. In that 

case, the full amount of the contribution counts 

against the limits of both the original contributor 

and the conduit, even though the candidate receives only one check. 110.6(d)(2). For examples 

of how the Commission has viewed the “direction 

or control” rule in specifi c situations, see AOs 

1986-4, 1981-57 and 1980-46.

Solicitation Costs for Earmarked 

Contributions

If a committee’s solicitation is coordinated with 

the recipient campaign or its agents, then the 

direct costs of the solicitation constitute in-kind 

contributions to the named candidates. If the 

solicitation is not coordinated, however, the costs 

will be considered an independent expenditure. 

AO 2003-23 and 100.16.

Effect on Unregistered Organization

An unregistered organization acting as a conduit 

should be aware that conduit activity could result 

in contributions by the organization if it exercises 

direction or control over earmarked contributions 

or if solicitation costs for earmarked contributions result in in-kind contributions to candidates. 

Such contributions may trigger registration and 

reporting requirements. 100.5(a)–(c).

3. Forwarding Earmarked 

Contributions

A conduit must forward an earmarked contribution, along with a transmittal report (see below), 

to the recipient candidate committee within 10 

days of receiving the contribution. 102.8(a) and 

(c); 110.6(c)(1)(iii).

4. Reporting Conduit 

Activity

A conduit discloses information on earmarked 

contributions on two reports.

Report for Recipient Candidate 

Committee

A conduit must provide a transmittal report to the 

recipient candidate committee when it forwards 

an earmarked contribution. 110.6(c)(1)(i).

Report Filed with the FEC

Registered Political Committee

A political committee acting as a conduit must 

include information on an earmarked contribution on its next regularly scheduled FEC report. 

110.6(c)(1)(ii).

Unregistered Entity

An individual or other unregistered entity acting 

as a conduit must disclose information on an earmarked contribution in a letter to the FEC within 

30 days after forwarding the earmarked contribution. 110.6(c)(1)(ii). 1 A corporation, labor organization or separate segregated 

(SSF) fund may, however, solicit earmarked contributions to 

be collected and forwarded by the SSF as long as the earmarked contributions are treated as contributions received 

and made by the SSF (as well as contributions made by the 

individual contributors to the designated candidates) and 

count against the limits of both the contrubtor and the SSF. 

114.2(f)(2)(iii) and (4)(iii).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

33 Chapter 6

5. Contents of Transmittal 

Reports

Both conduit reports must disclose the following 

information:

• The name and mailing address of each 

contributor and, if the contribution exceeds 

$200, the contributor’s occupation and 

employer.

• The amount of each earmarked contribution 

and the date the conduit received it.

• The intended recipient designated by the 

contributor. It is suggested that the conduit also 

include the election for which the contribution 

was designated (if any), the offi ce sought 

by the candidate (state and, if applicable, 

Congressional district) and the name and 

address of the recipient candidate committee.

• The date the earmarked contribution was 

forwarded to the recipient committee.

• How the contribution was forwarded (by cash, 

contributor’s check or conduit’s check).

• A statement indicating that the conduit’s limit 

was also affected, if applicable. 110.6(c)(1)(iv) 

and (d)(2).

6. Reporting Instructions 

for Political Committee 

Conduits

Using Schedules A and B

A political committee acting as a conduit itemizes information on earmarked contributions in 

its regular FEC reports using Schedules A and 

B. Note that if a committee forwards earmarked 

contributions in the form of the 

contributors’ checks, without 

depositing them, it must itemize 

the earmarked contributions as 

memo entries on Schedules A 

and B. 110.6(c)(1)(v). Alternatively, instead of labeling 

each entry as a memo entry, 

the committee may itemize the 

contributions on Schedules A 

and B clearly labeled as memo 

entry schedules.

Schedule A

A conduit committee reports 

the following information on 

Schedule A for each earmarked 

contribution:

• Contributor information 

(name, address and, if 

applicable, occupation and 

employer).

• The date of receipt and 

amount of the contribution.

• The name of the designated 

candidate.

Earmarked Contributions

FE3AN037.PDF

, , .

, , .

, , .

Aggregate Year-to-Date

, , .

C

C , , .

C , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

, , .

SCHEDULE A (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED RECEIPTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SUBTOTAL of Receipts This Page (optional) ............................................................................

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

A.

FEC Schedule A (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

B.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

C.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF U (check only one) se separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page 11a 11b 11c 12

13 14 15 16 17

1 1

X

Freedom Party State Committee

Michael Chaplin

111 River Road

City ST 00000

08 19 2004

500.00

Kramerica Inc. Vice-president Earmarked for Guy Blank,

House, ST.

X

SCHEDULE B (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

A. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

B. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

C. Date of Disbursement

Use separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF

(check only one)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

21b 22 23 24 25 26

27 28a 28b 28c 29 30b

1 1

X

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

08 25 2004

500.00

X X

ST 6

011

Friends of Guy Blank

111 Gari Street

Contribution

Guy Blank

Earmarked by Michael Chaplin

and transmitted by committee

check.

These reporting procedures apply when the committee deposits an earmarked contribution 

before transmitting the funds to the candidate for whom the contributor earmarked them. 

When the committee transmits the contributor’s original check, the procedures are the same, 

but the itemized information must appear as memo entries on Schedules A and B. Or, the 

committee may use Schedules A and B clearly labeled as memo entry schedules.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

34 Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

Other Candidate

Support Activities

In addition to making contributions, party committees may support federal candidates in the 

ways described below.

In general, candidate-support activities must be 

paid with federally permissible funds.

1. Coordinated Party 

Expenditures

A national party committee and state party committees may make special expenditures in connection with the general election campaigns of 

federal candidates. 109.30. These coordinated 

party expenditures do not count against the 

contribution limits but are subject to a different 

set of limits, as explained below. Also, coordinated 

party expenditures must be made with federally 

permissible funds only.

(Coordinated party expenditures are also 

called “441a(d) expenditures” because they are 

provided for in Section 441a(d) of the Federal 

Election Campaign Act.)

Committees Authorized to Make 

Coordinated Party Expenditures

National Committee

Only a national party committee has a coordinated party spending limit for the party’s Presidential 

nominee. 109.32(a).

A national party committee also has a coordinated party expenditure limit for the party’s 

House and Senate candidates in the general election. 109.32(b).

State Committee

A state party committee has its own separate 

spending limit for each of the party’s House and 

Senate nominees in that state. 109.32(b).

Schedule B

A conduit committee reports the following information on Schedule B:

• The designated candidate and, preferably, the 

offi ce sought by the candidate and the name 

and address of the candidate committee.

• The amount of the contribution, the date it was 

forwarded and, preferably, the election (if any) 

designated by the contributor.

• A notation as to how the contribution was 

forwarded (cash, contributor check, committee 

check).

• A statement that the conduit’s limit was also 

affected, if applicable.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

35 Chapter 7

• Senate Candidate: state voting age population 

x 2 cents, increased by the COLA; or $20,000 

increased by the COLA, whichever is greater.

• Presidential Candidate: National voting age 

population x 2 cents, increased by the COLA. 

109.32

Every election year, the Commission publishes 

the dollar amounts of the coordinated party expenditure limits in its newsletter, the Record.

The Millionaires’ Amendment

The coordinated party expenditure limits for 

House and Senate candidates increase when their 

opponents’ personal spending exceeds certain 

threshold amounts. See below.

Party Expenditures vs. In-Kind 

Contributions

In making a coordinated party expenditure, the 

party committee pays for goods or services to 

benefi t the candidate but does not give the money directly to the candidate or candidate committee. For example, the payment of a campaign bill 

could be treated and reported as a coordinated 

party expenditure, while a check payable to the 

candidate committee could not—it would have to 

be treated as a contribution.

Similarities

Coordinated party expenditures, then, are similar 

to in-kind contributions in that both represent 

payments for goods or services. An expenditure 

in connection with a general election campaign 

may count against either the coordinated party 

expenditure limit or the contribution limit for 

the candidate. It is up to the party committee 

to decide (assuming it has authority to make a 

coordinated party expenditure).

Differences

Coordinated party expenditures differ from contributions in the following ways:

• Coordinated party expenditures may be 

made in connection with the general election 

only, whereas contributions may be made in 

connection with any election.

• Coordinated party expenditures count against 

special limits, distinct from the contribution 

limits. 1 The limit also applies to candidates for Delegate (District 

of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands) and Resident Commissioner (Puerto Rico). 109.32(b)(2)(ii).

2 The Cost of Living Adjustment has more than tripled the 

limits since 1974, the base year. For example, the 2004 

spending limit for a House candidate is $37,310.

Local Committees

A local party committee or organization may make 

coordinated party expenditures if authorized to 

do so by the national or state committee. Local 

party units do not have any coordinated party 

spending authority of their own. 

Assigning Spending Limits

to Designated Agent

General Rule

A national or state party committee may assign all 

or part of its coordinated party spending authority to another party committee. 109.33. The assigning committee must fi rst authorize the spending in a written agreement that should specify the 

amount the designated agent may spend.

In this way, for example:

• State and local party committees may spend 

against the national committee’s Presidential 

spending limit; and

• A local party committee may spend against the 

state committee’s limits for House and Senate 

candidates.

Authorizing Committee’s Responsibility

A state party committee must monitor and 

disclose party expenditures made by designated 

local committees. A state committee may use an 

FEC-recommended plan for this purpose (see 

page 75) or some other method approved in 

advance by the Commission. 109.33(b).

National party committees should also monitor and disclose coordinated party expenditures 

made by designated agents.

Formulas for Coordinated Party 

Expenditure Limits

Coordinated party expenditure limits are calculated as follows:

• House Candidate:1 $10,000 increased by the 

Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)2 or, in states 

with only one representative, the same as the 

Senate limit.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

36 Chapter 7

• There is only one coordinated party expenditure 

limit per candidate (it applies only to the 

general election candidate)3 whereas there is a 

separate contribution limit for each election in 

which a candidate participates.

• The coordinated party expenditure limits are 

much larger than the contribution limits.

• Coordinated party expenditures are reported by 

the party committee only, while contributions 

are reported by both the party committee and 

the recipient candidate committee.

Communications

Coordination

If a communication is coordinated with a candidate, then it is either an in-kind contribution 

to that campaign or it is a coordinated party 

expenditure. A communication is coordinated if it 

satisfi es a three prong test. For more on determining coordination, see Chapter 9.

Disclaimers

Disclaimers on communications done as coordinated party expenditures must identify the 

committee that actually paid for the communication, regardless of whether the committee 

is spending against its own limit or against an 

amount assigned to it by another committee. 

110.11(d)(1)(i).

When a coordinated party expenditure is 

made before the date of the party’s nomination, 

the communication need only state who paid 

for it; no authorization statement is required. 

110.11(d)(1). However, for post-nomination coordinated party expenditures approved by a candidate or candidate’s committee, the communication must state also that it is authorized by the 

nominee or nominee’s committee. 110.11(d)(2). 

These post-nomination coordinated party expenditures must also comply with the additional 

disclaimer requirements explained on pages 48. 

For more on candidate appearances in their 

communications, see the Campaign Guide for 

Congressional Candidates.

Allocation Among Candidates

A coordinated party expenditure made on behalf 

of more than one candidate must be allocated 

in proportion to the benefi t each candidate is 

expected to receive. The amount allocated to a 

candidate counts against the coordinated spending limit (or contribution limit) for that candidate. 

Allocation procedures are the same as those used 

to allocate in-kind contributions; see page 28. 

104.10(a); 106.1(a) and (b).

Pre-nomination expenditures

Party committees may make coordinated party 

expenditures in connection with the general election campaign before or after the party’s candidate has been nominated. All pre-nomination 

coordinated expenditures continue to be subject 

to the coordinated party expenditure limitations, 

whether or not the candidate on whose behalf 

they are made receives the party’s nomination. 

109.34.

2. Increased Coordinated 

Party Expenditure 

Limits for Candidates 

Opposing Self-Financed 

Candidates

Under provisions of the so-called “Millionaire’s 

Amendment,” the coordinated party expenditure 

limit applicable to a candidate may be increased if 

personal spending by one or more opposing candidates creates a funding dispartity that exceeds 

certain threshold amounts.

Threshold Amounts 

The threshold amounts for House and Senate candidates differ. For House candidates the 

threshold amount is $350,000. Senate candidates must exceed ten times the threshold 

amount set forth in FEC regulations ($150,000 

+ (.04 x voting age population of the state)) to 

trigger increased 441(a)(d) limits. These fi gures 

are available on the FEC’s web site at http://www.

fec.gov/pages/bcra/rulemakings/millionairesenate.shtml

3 In a few states, if an election does not result in the selection of a fi nal winner because none of the candidates wins a 

majority of the votes, a second election is held between the 

top two vote getters. In this situation, however, only one coordinated party expenditure limit applies to both elections. 

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee v. FEC, 918 F. , 918 F. 

Supp. 1, DDC 1994.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

37 Chapter 7

4 Candidates calculate this amount using the Form 11 

worksheet.

Opposition Personal Funds 

Amount

Opposition personal spending that exceeds the 

threshold amounts does not by itself trigger 

increased limits. The regulations also take into 

account expenditures from the personal funds of 

the candidate seeking increased limits under the 

Millionaires’ Amendment as well as fundraising by 

the campaigns. 

Campaigns must use the appropriate “opposition personal funds amount” formula to 

determine whether an opposing candidate has 

spent suffi cient personal funds in comparison to 

the amounts raised by the campaigns to trigger 

increased contribution and coordinated party 

expenditure limits. The opposition personal funds 

formula takes half the difference between the 

gross receipts of the candidate and the gross 

receipts of the opponent and subtracts that from 

the amount by which the opponent is outspending the candidate using his or her personal funds.4

Hence, a candidate with a signifi cant fundraising 

advantage over a self-fi nanced opponent might 

not receive an increased contribution limit or 

441a(d) limit.

Avoiding Excessive Expenditures 

Under the Increased Limits

National and state party committees must 

monitor the opposition personal funds amount 

for campaigns in which they are making coordinated party expenditures in excess of the regular 

coordinated party expenditure limits (at 11 CFR 

109.32(b)).

House candidates (and their authorized committees) must not accept, and national and state 

party committees making coordinated party 

expenditures on behalf of House candidates 

must not make, any contribution or coordinated 

party expenditure that causes the aggregate 

contributions accepted and coordinated party 

expenditures made under the increased limits to 

be greater than 100 percent of the opposition 

personal funds amount.

Similarly, Senate candidates (and their authorized committees) must not accept, and national 

and state party committees making coordinated 

party expenditures on behalf of Senate candidates 

must not make, any contribution or coordinated 

party expenditure that causes the aggregate 

contributions accepted and coordinated party 

expenditures made under the increased limits to 

be greater than 110 percent of the opposition 

personal funds amount.

Candidate Reporting 

Requirements

Notification of Personal Spending

A House candidate’s principal campaign committee must notify the Commission, each opposing 

candidate and the national party committee of 

each opposing candidate within 24 hours when 

the candidate’s aggregate expenditures from 

personal funds exceed the threshold amount (FEC 

Form 10). 11 CFR 400.21(b).

A Senate candidate’s principal campaign committee must notify the Secretary of the Senate, 

the Commission and each opposing candidate 

within 24 hours when the candidate’s aggregate 

expenditures from personal funds exceed two 

times the threshold amount (FEC Form 10). 11 

CFR 400.21(a). 

After the initial notifi cation, House and Senate 

candidates must inform the same group within 24 

hours each time the candidate makes an additional expenditure from personal funds in excess 

of $10,000. 11 CFR 400.22. Both the initial and 

additional notifi cations must be made by faxing 

or e-mailing a copy of FEC Form 10 to all of the 

designated entities. 11 CFR 400.24.

Notification of Eligibility for Increased 

Limits

Within 24 hours after they become eligible, 

candidates who qualify for increased coordinated party expenditure limits (or their principal 

campaign committees) must fi le FEC Form 11 to 

inform their national and State party committees 

and the Commission.

Within 24 hours of attaining funds comparable 

to that of the wealthy opponent–100 percent 

of opposition personal funds for House candi-
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

38 Chapter 7

dates and 110 percent for Senate candidates–the 

candidate must fi le FEC Form 12 and inform 

the national and state committees of his or her 

political party that the increased limits have been 

suspended.

Party Committee Reporting 

Requirements

Each time a national or state political party 

committee makes coordinated expenditures in 

excess of the normal limits, it must notify the 

Commission and the candidate on whose behalf the expenditure is made by fax or e-mail 

within 24 hours, using Schedule F. A check-off 

box on Schedule F indicates that it is a 24 hour 

report made under modifi ed limits. 11 CFR 

§400.30(c)(2).

A national or state party committee must 

report this activity a second time on a Schedule F 

fi led with its next scheduled report. 

For further information on reporting coordinated party expenditures, see page 75.

3. Exempt Party Activities

State and local party committees may spend 

unlimited amounts for certain activities—called 

exempt party activities—that benefi t federal 

candidates but that are exempt from the defi nitions of contribution and expenditure. (A national 

party committee is not entitled to these 

exemptions.)

Generally, party committees must report spending on exempt activities as operating expenditures. (Exempt party activities are not reportable 

by the committees of federal candidates benefi ting from the activity.) In many instances, however, 

these activities will qualify as FEA, triggering 

specifi c payment and disclosure requirements 

discussed in the next chapter.

Disclaimers

Exempt state and local party activities are required to carry a “paid for by” disclaimer. Being 

exempt from the contribution and expenditure 

limits does not exempt these communications 

from the disclaimer requirement. However, the 

disclaimer does not need to state whether the 

communication is authorized by a candidate, or 

any authorized committee or agent of any candidate. See further discussion of the disclaimer 

rules at 48. 110.11(e).

Slate Cards and Sample Ballots

A state or local party committee may prepare and 

distribute a slate card, sample ballot, palm card 

or other printed list naming candidates for any 

public offi ce. The payments are not considered 

contributions or expenditures on behalf of any 

federal candidate listed, as long as the following 

conditions are met:

• The list names at least three candidates running 

for election to any public offi ce.

• The list is not distributed through public 

political advertising (which includes broadcast 

media, newspapers, magazines and billboards 

but not direct mail). AO 1978–9.

• The content is limited to the identifi cation of 

each candidate (pictures may be used), the 

offi ce or position currently held, the offi ce 

sought and party affi liation. The list must 

exclude any additional biographical data on 

candidates and their positions on issues as well 

as statements on party philosophy. Certain 

voting information, however, may be given, such 

as time, place and instructions on voting a 

straight party ticket. AO 1978–89.

• Costs allocable to federal candidates are paid 

with permissible funds. 100.80; 100.140. For 

information on how to allocate exempt activity 

expenses, see page 86.

Campaign Materials

A state or local party committee may prepare 

and distribute campaign materials such as pins, 

bumper stickers, handbills, brochures, posters 

and yard signs. The payments are not considered 

contributions or expenditures if the following 

conditions are met:

• The activity is conducted on behalf of the 

party’s nominees in the general election (not 

on behalf of candidates running in primary 

elections).

• The materials are distributed by volunteers—

not through public political advertising such 

as television, radio, newspapers, magazines, 

billboards or direct mail (mailings by a 

commercial vendor or from commercial lists).

• The party committee does not use materials 

purchased by the national party committee or 

money transferred from the national committee 

to purchase materials.

• The party committee does not use funds 

designated for a particular federal candidate.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

39 Chapter 7

5 If there is a defi ciency in the Presidential Election Campaign Funds, nominees may accept contributions to the 

extent necessary to make up the defi ciency. 9003.3(b)(1).

• A payment from a nonfederal campaign to 

help pay for the materials does not exceed its 

allocated share of the expenses.

• Costs allocable to federal candidates are paid 

with permissible funds. 100.87; 100.147. For 

information on how to allocate exempt activity 

expenses, see page 86.

Voter Drives for Presidential 

Nominee

A state or local party committee may conduct a 

voter registration or get-out-the-vote drive on 

behalf of the party’s Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees without the payments being 

considered contributions or expenditures as long 

as the following conditions are met:

• The activity does not involve the use of public 

political advertising such as television, radio, 

newspapers, magazines, billboards or direct 

mail (mailings by a commercial vendor or from 

commercial lists).

• Phone banks are operated by volunteers 

(although paid professionals may design the 

system, develop calling instructions and train 

supervisors).

• The party committee does not use funds 

transferred by the national party committee for 

voter drive activities.

• The party committee does not use funds 

designated for a particular federal candidate.

• Cost allocable to federal candidates are paid 

with permissible funds. For information on how 

to allocate exempt activity expenses, see page 

86.

Any reference to a U.S. House or Senate candidate must be incidental to the overall activity; 

otherwise, the cost allocable to the House or 

Senate candidate is an in-kind contribution or 

coordinated party expenditure on behalf of that 

candidate. 100.89; 100.149; and 106.1(c)(3).

4. Phone Banks

In some cases, phone banks are governed by 

unique allocation rules. These unique rules apply 

to a phone bank conducted by a national, state, 

district or local party committee that:

• Refers to a clearly identifi ed federal candidate;

• Does not refer to any other clearly identifi ed 

federal or nonfederal candidate;

• Includes another reference that generically 

refers to other candidates of the federal 

candidate’s party without clearly identifying 

them (i.e., “Come out and vote for President 

John Doe and our great Party team.”);

• Does not solicit any contribution or donation 

or any other funds from any person; and

• Is not a contribution or expenditure. 106.8(a). . 106.8(a).

If the phone bank satisfi es all of these conditions, then 50 percent is attributed to the federal 

candidate as an in-kind contribution or coordinated party expenditure (or must be refunded by 

the campaign) and must be paid for with federal 

funds. The remaining 50 percent is not attributed to any candidate, but must be paid for with 

federal funds. 106.8(b).

5. Support of Presidential 

Nominee

Contributions to Major Party 

Nominees

No Contributions to General Election 

Campaign of Publicly Funded Candidate

Major party nominees who opt to receive public 

funding for the general election may not accept any campaign contributions and must limit 

campaign spending to the amount of the public 

funding grant.5 Thus, a Republican or Democratic 

party committee may not make any contributions 

to the general election campaign of its Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees if those 

nominees accept public funding. 9003.2(a)(2).

Contributions to Compliance Fund

Publicly funded nominees may, however, accept 

contributions designated for a general election 

legal and accounting compliance fund (GELAC 

fund), a special account used to pay legal and accounting expenses incurred in complying with the 

campaign fi nance law. Contributions to a GELAC 

fund are subject to the Act’s prohibitions and the 

per-election contribution limits. (Contributions 

are limited to $2,000 or, in the case of a multicandidate committee, $5,000.)
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

40 Chapter 7

Contributions to Nonmajor Party 

Nominees

General election contributions to the Presidential 

nominee of a nonmajor party are subject to the 

per-election contribution limits. 110.1(j)(1) and 

110.2(i)(1).

A minor or new party candidate in the Presidential general election may qualify for partial public 

funding if the party’s nominee in the previous 

Presidential election received at least 5 percent 

of the popular vote or if the current nominee 

receives at least 5 percent of the vote. The 

nominee may accept contributions (subject to 

the limits and prohibitions) to pay for expenses in 

excess of the public funding grant. (The candidate 

is subject to the same spending limit as a major 

party nominee.) 9003.2(b) and 9003.3(c)(1).

Exempt Activities

State and local party committees may support 

the party’s Presidential ticket through the exempt 

party activities listed earlier in this chapter. 

Coordinated Party Expenditures

As stated earlier, only a national party committee 

has a coordinated party spending limit for the 

party’s Presidential nominee. Other party committees may spend against this limit if they have the 

national committee’s prior written authorization 

(which should include the amount that may be 

spent). 109.33.

6. Use of Candidates’ 

Names in Special 

Projects

As explained on pag 6, a party committee cannot 

include the name of any candidate in its own 

name. FEC rules also prohibit a party committee 

(or any unauthorized committee) from using a 

candidate’s name in the name of a special communication, such as a fundraising or advertising 

project, unless the name clearly shows opposition 

to the identifi ed candidate. 102.14(a) and (b)(3). 

Candidate names may, however, be used in the 

text of the communication.

A special project that opposes a candidate 

(e.g., a fundraiser entitled “Defeat Jones in ’04”) 

is considered an in-kind contribution, a coordinated party expenditure or an independent expenditure on behalf of the candidate’s opponent. 

(See Chapter 9.)

7. Indirect Candidate 

Support

Party activities and expenses that indirectly 

benefi t candidates but that are not directly attributable to any clearly identifi ed candidate are 

not considered contributions or coordinated 

party expenditures and therefore do not count 

against those limits. Nevertheless, party committees with separate federal, Levin and nonfederal 

accounts must allocate a portion of such costs as 

federal expenses, payable with permissible funds. 

106.1(c)(1) and (2), 106.1(e); 106.5(a)(1). (For 

information on setting up federal and nonfederal 

accounts, see page 3; see Chapter 13 for details 

on allocation.)

The specifi c types of indirect support activities 

described below must be allocated.

Administrative Expenses

Expenses for rent, personnel, overhead and other 

day-to-day costs of running the committee are 

not considered contributions or coordinated 

party expenditures as long as the expenses are 

not directly attributable to a clearly identifi ed 

candidate. As explained above, however, some 

of these expenses are allocable. 106.1(c)(1); 

106.5(a)(2)(i).

Generic Voter Drive Costs

Activities that urge the general public to register, 

to vote or to support candidates of a particular party or associated with a particular issue, 

without mentioning a specifi c candidate, are not 

considered contributions or coordinated party 

expenditures, but costs for this type of activity 

are allocable. 106.1(c)(2); 106.5(a)(2)(iv).

In many instances, however, these activities 

will qualify as federal election activity, triggering 

specifi c payment and disclosure requirements 

discussed in the next chapter.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

41 Chapter 8

1 During even numbered years, “in connection with an election in which a federal candidate appears on the ballot” 

means the period beginning on the fi ling deadline for 

primary election ballot access for federal candidates under 

state law- or January 1st of the election year for states 

that do not hold primaries- and ending on the day of the 

general election (or of the general election runoff if one is 

held). In odd numbered years, it means the period beginning on the day that the date is set for a special election 

and ending on the day of that election.

CHAPTER 8

Federal Election 

Activity

1. Defi nition

What Federal Election Activity Is

Federal election activity (FEA) is a specifi cally 

defi ned term of art that triggers certain payment 

and reporting requirements. FEA is defi ned as:

• Voter registration activity during the period 120 during the period 120 

days before a regularly scheduled primary or 

general election including the election day itself;

• Voter identifi cation, get-out-the-vote and 

generic campaign activity conducted in conducted in 

connection with an election in which a federal 

candidate appears on the ballot;1

• A public communication public communication that refers to a clearly that refers to a clearly 

identifi ed candidate for federal offi ce and that 

promotes, attacks, supports or opposes any 

candidate for federal offi ce. The communication 

does not need to expressly advocate the 

election or defeat of the federal candidate to 

qualify as FEA; and

• Services provided during a month by an 

employee of a state or local party committee 

who spends more than 25 percent of their 

compensated time during that month on 

activities in connection with a federal election, 

including FEA.

100.24(b).

What Federal Election Activity is 

Not

FEA does not include any amount expended by a 

state or local party committee for:

• A public communication that refers solely to 

clearly identifi ed candidates for nonfederal 

offi ce and does not promote, attack, support 

or oppose a federal candidate. However, the 

communication may be FEA if it otherwise 

qualifi es (e.g. as get-out-the-vote activity);

• A contribution to a candidate for state or local 

offi ce, provided that it is not designated to pay 

for the FEA described above;

• Costs of a state or local political convention, 

meeting or conference; and

• Costs of grassroots campaign materials (such as 

buttons, bumper stickers, yard signs, handbills, 

brochures and posters) that name or depict 

only candidates for state and local offi ce.

100.24(c).

2. Funding Federal Election 

Activity

The third and fourth types of FEA above must be 

paid for solely with federal funds. The fi rst and 

second types may generally be allocated between 

federal and Levin funds according to fi xed percentages described in Chapter 14. However, Levin 

funds may not be used to pay for any part of FEA 

if the activity refers to a clearly identifi ed candidate or if any part of the funds will be used to 

pay for a television or radio communication (unless the communication refers solely to a clearly 

identifi ed state or local candidate).

Note that if a state or local party’s disbursements for allocable FEA amount to less than 

$5,000, the payments may come exclusively from 

federal funds or Levin funds, or they may be allocated between both. 300.32(c)(4).

Unregistered party organizations should note 

that unless the payments otherwise qualify as 

expenditures, payments of federal funds or Levin 

funds for FEA by a state, district or local party 

committee do not constitute expenditures for the 

purpose of determining registration requirements. 

300.36(a)(2).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

42 Chapter 8

3. Levin Funds

As noted in Chapter 1, Levin funds are a new category of funds that can be used for certain types 

of FEA. State, district and local party committees 

may raise Levin funds in limited amounts and use 

them to pay for certain federal election activities. 

300.2(i), 300.30 and 300.34.

Levin funds may be kept in an account with 

other nonfederal funds or may be placed in an 

account exclusively for Levin funds. 300.30(c)(2) 

and (3). For more on committee bank accounts 

and Levin funds, see page 3.

Raising Levin Funds

Limitations 

A party committee may not solicit or accept Levin 

funds which aggregate to more than $10,000 per 

source in a calendar year. If the laws of the state 

in which the committee is organized limit donations to that committee to less than $10,000, 

that lower limit would apply. 300.31(d)(1)-(2).

Levin fund donations are not subject to the 

normal aggregation requirements based on affi liation between committees. While contributions 

to state and local committees aggregate toward 

the same limit, donations of Levin funds do not. 

300.31(d)(3).

Similarly, while state and local parties can typically transfer among themselves without limit, 

Levin funds cannot be transferred. Any Levin 

funds expended or disbursed by a committee 

must have been raised solely by that committee. 

Moreover, when making allocated payments for 

FEA, a committee must be able to show that the 

federal and Levin funds it uses to make a disbursement for FEA do not include federal funds 

transferred to it by any other party committee. 

300.31(a).

Additionally, Levin funds may not be solicited 

or accepted via a joint fundraiser with any other 

party committee. 300.31(f).

Fundraising Expenses

Expenditures to raise federal funds which are to 

be used for FEA must be made with federal funds 

only. However, expenditures to raise Levin funds 

which are to be used for FEA must be made with 

either federal or Levin funds, or an allocated ratio 

of the two. 300.32(a) and (c).

These expenses include the cost of solicitation, administration and planning for the event. 

300.32(a).

Prohibited Sources

Party committees may not accept donations to 

their Levin accounts which were solicited, received, transferred or spent in the name of:

• A national committee of a political party, 

including their national congressional campaign 

committee; 

• A federal candidate or offi ceholder; or

• A foreign national. 300.31(c) and (e). 

Corporate and union donations and donations 

from federal government contractors are permissible, as long as state law does not prohibit them.

Spending Levin Funds

In addition to the FEA expenses identifi ed above, 

state, district and local party committees may use 

Levin funds to pay for any activity which is lawful 

in the state where the party committee is organized. 300.32(b)

Bear in mind, however, that state and local 

party committees may not spend Levin funds on:

• Any broadcast, cable or satellite communication 

unless it refers solely to a clearly identifi ed 

candidate for state or local offi ce;

• Services provided by an employee of a state 

or local party committee who devotes over 

25 percent of his or her compensated time to 

activity in connection with federal elections; and

• FEA which refers to a clearly identifi ed federal 

candidate. 300.32(c).

4. Reporting Requirements

Party committees must report their federal election activity. Reporting requirements are explained in Chapter 14.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

43 Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

Communications

In addition to contributions and other fi nancial 

assistance, party committees may also distribute 

communications which support candidates. This 

chapter discusses the varied types of communications, how they must be paid for and the disclaimer requirements that apply.

1. Coordinated 

Communications

When a party committee pays for a communication that is coordinated with a candidate, the 

communication is either an in-kind contribution 

or a coordinated party expenditure. (On the 

other hand, when a committee pays for a communication that is coordinated with a political 

party committee, the communication is an in-kind 

contribution to the party committee.)

Coordination Defi ned

”Coordinated” means made in cooperation, 

consultation or concert with, or at the request or 

suggestion of, a candidate, a candidate’s authorized committee, or their agents, or a political 

party committee or its agents.1 109.20.

Determining Coordination

There is a three-pronged test to determine 

whether a communication is coordinated.

If a communication satisfi es all three prongs, it 

is deemed to be coordinated. The three parts of 

the test consider:

• The source of payment;

• A “content standard,” regarding the subject 

matter of the communication; and

• A “conduct standard,” regarding the 

interactions between the person paying for the 

communication and the candidate or political 

party committee. 109.21(a).

Source of Payment

A coordinated communication is paid for by 

someone other than a candidate, an authorized 

committee or a political party committee. However, a person’s status as a candidate would not 

exempt him or her from the coordination regulations with respect to payments he or she makes 

on behalf of a different candidate. 109.21(a)(1).

Content Standard

The purpose of the content standards is to 

determine whether the subject matter of a communication is reasonably related to an election. A 

communication that satisfi es any one part of the 

four-part standard meets the content requirement:

• A communication that is an “electioneering 

communication" (see Section 5 below);

• A public communication that republishes, 

disseminates or distributes candidate campaign 

materials, unless the activity meets one of 

the exceptions at 109.23(b) discussed in the 

conduct standards below;

• A public communication that expressly 

advocates the election or defeat of a clearly 

identifi ed candidate for federal offi ce; or

• A public communication that:

• Refers to a clearly identifi ed federal 

candidate or political party;

• Is publicly distributed or disseminated 120 

days or fewer before a primary or general 

election or a convention or caucus with the 

authority to nominate a candidate. See AOs 

2004-1 and 2003-25; and

• Is directed to voters in the jurisdiction 

of the clearly identifi ed candidate or to 

voters in a jurisdiction where one or more 

candidates of the political party appear on 

the ballot.109.21(c)(1)-(4).

Conduct Standard

The purpose of the conduct standards is to 

determine when interaction between the campaign and the person paying for the communication might constitute coordination. When the 

conduct standard and the fi rst two prongs of the 

test (the content standards and the source of 

payment) are also met, then the communication 

is coordinated and results in an in-kind contribution. A communication that satisfi es any one of 

the conduct tests described below satisfi es the 

1 conduct standard. For the purposes of 11 CFR part 109 only, “agent” is 

defi ned at 11 CFR 109.3.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

44 Chapter 9

Request or Suggestion

This test has two parts, and satisfying either 

satisfi es the test. The fi rst part is satisfi ed if 

the person creating, producing or distributing 

the communication does so at the request or 

suggestion of a candidate, authorized committee, political party committee or agent of any of 

these. A communication satisfi es the second part 

of the “request or suggestion” conduct standard 

if the person paying for the communication suggests the creation, production or distribution of 

the communication to the candidate, authorized 

committee, political party committee or agent of 

any of the above, and the candidate or political party committee assents to the suggestion. 

109.21(d)(1).

Material Involvement

This test is satisfi ed if a candidate, candidate 

committee, political party committee or an agent 

of any of these was “materially involved in decisions” regarding any of the following aspects of a 

public communication paid for by someone else:

• Content of the communication; 

• Intended audience; 

• Means or mode of the communication; 

• Specifi c media outlet used; 

• Timing or frequency of the communication; or 

• Size or prominence of a printed communication 

or duration of a communication by means of 

broadcast, cable or satellite. 109.21(d)(2).

Substantial Discussion

A communication meets this standard if it is 

created, produced or distributed after one or 

more substantial discussions between the person 

paying for the communication, or the person’s 

agents, and the candidate clearly identifi ed in the 

communication or that candidate’s committee, 

that candidate’s opponent or opponent’s committee, a political party committee or an agent of 

the above. A discussion would be “substantial” if 

information about the plans, projects, activities or 

needs of the candidate or political party committee that is material to the creation, production 

or distribution of the communication is conveyed 

to the person paying for the communication. 

109.21(d)(3).

Employment of Common Vendor.

The conduct standard provides that the use of 

a common vendor in the creation, production 

or distribution of a communication satisfi es the 

conduct standard if:

• The person paying for the communication 

contracts with, or employs, a “commercial 

vendor” to create, produce or distribute the 

communication;2 and

• The commercial vendor, including any offi cer, 

owner or employee of the vendor, has a previous 

or current relationship with the candidate 

or political party committee that puts the 

commercial vendor in a position to acquire 

information about the campaign plans, projects, 

activities or needs of the candidate or political 

party committee. This previous relationship is 

defi ned in terms of nine specifi c services related 

to campaigning and campaign communications. 

Note that these services would have to have 

been rendered during the election cycle in which 

the communication is fi rst publicly distributed; 

and 

• The commercial vendor uses or conveys 

information about the campaign plans, projects, 

activities or needs of the candidate or political 

party committee, or information previously 

used by the commercial vendor in serving 

the candidate or political party committee, 

to the person paying for the communication, 

and that information is material to the 

creation, production or distribution of the 

communication. 109.21(d)(4).

Former Employee/Independent Contractor

This standard applies to communications paid for 

by a person who has previously been an employee 

or an independent contractor of a candidate’s 

campaign committee or a political party committee during the election cycle.

The standard requires that the former employee use or convey information about the plans, 

projects, activities or needs of the candidate or 

political party committee, or information used by 

the former employee in serving the candidate or 

political party committee, to the person paying 

for the communication, and the information is 

material to the creation, production or distribution of the communication. 109.21(d)(5).3

2 The term “commercial vendor” is defi ned at 116.1(c). 

3

 Under the rules, a candidate or political party committee 

would not be held responsible for receiving or accepting 

an in-kind contribution that resulted only from conduct 

described in the “Employment of Common Vendor” and 

”Former Employee / Independent Contractor” sections. 

109.21(d)(4) and (d)(5). However, the person paying for 

a communication that is coordinated because of conduct 

described in these sections would still be responsible for 

making an in-kind contribution for purposes of the contribution limitations, prohibitions and reporting requirements 

of the Act. 109.21(b)(2).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

45 Chapter 9

Dissemination, distribution or republication 

of campaign material

A communication that republishes, disseminates 

or distributes campaign material only satisfi es 

the fi rst three conduct standards on the basis 

of the candidate’s conduct—or that of his or 

her committee or agents--that occurs after the 

original preparation of the campaign materials 

that are disseminated, distributed or republished. 

109.21(d)(6).4

Agreement or formal collaboration

Neither agreement (defi ned as a mutual understanding on any part of the material aspect of the 

communication or its dissemination) nor formal 

collaboration (defi ned as planned or systematically-organized work) is necessary for a communication to be a coordinated communication. 

109.21(e).

Safe harbor for responses to inquires about 

legislative or policy issues

A candidate’s or political party committee’s 

response to an inquiry about that candidate’s or 

party’s positions on legislative or policy issues, 

which does not include discussion of campaign 

plans, projects, activities or needs, will not satisfy 

any of the conduct standards. 109.21(f).

2. Party Coordinated 

Communications

In addition to general coordinated communications, there are “party coordinated communications,” which are communications paid for by the 

party and coordinated with a campaign.

Determining Coordination

Party coordinated communications satisfy a similar three-pronged test for coordination. However, 

there are two important differences. First, the 

communication is paid for by a political party 

committee. Second, electioneering communications do not satisfy the content prong. 

In-kind Contribution vs. Party 

Coordinated Expenditure

Party coordinated communications must be treated by the party committee as either an in-kind 

contribution to the candidate or as a coordinated 

party expenditure to the general election campaign of the candidate. 109.37(b). See page 35.

3. Independent 

Expenditures

Party committees may support (or oppose) 

candidates by making independent expenditures. 

Independent expenditures are not contributions and are not subject to contribution limits. 

(However, contributions made to a committee or 

to another person making independent expenditures are subject to limits, as explained at the end 

of this section.) See AOs 1999-37, 1999-17 and 

1998-22.

Independent expenditures must be paid for 

with federally permissible funds.

Defi ned

An independent expenditure is an expenditure for 

a communication, such as a web site, newspaper, 

TV or direct mail advertisement, that:

• Expressly advocates the election or defeat of a 

clearly identifi ed candidate; and 

• Is not coordinated with a candidate, candidate’s 

committee, party committee or their agents. 

(See above.) 100.16(a). 

Clearly Identified Candidate

A candidate is “clearly identifi ed” if the candidate’s name, nickname or image appears, or the 

identity of the candidate is otherwise apparent. 

Examples include: “the President,” “your Congressman,” “the Democratic presidential nominee,” “the Republican candidate for Senate in the 

State of Georgia.” 100.17.

4

 Please note that the fi nancing of the distribution or republication of campaign materials, while considered an in-kind 

contribution by the person making the expenditure, is not 

considered an expenditure by the candidate’s authorized 

committee unless the dissemination, distribution or republication of campaign materials is coordinated. Additionally, 

republications of campaign materials coordinated with 

party committees are in-kind contributions to such party 

committees, and are reportable as such. 109.23(a).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

46 Chapter 9

Express Advocacy

 “Express advocacy” means that the communication includes a message that unmistakably urges 

election or defeat of one or more clearly identifi ed candidate(s). There are two ways that a communication can be considered express advocacy: 

by use of certain “explicit words of advocacy of 

election or defeat” and by the “only reasonable 

interpretation” test. 100.22.

Explicit words of advocacy of election or defeat

The following words convey a message of express 

advocacy: 

• “Vote for the President,” “re-elect your 

Congressman,” “support the Democratic 

nominee,” “cast your ballot for the Republican 

challenger for the U.S. Senate in Georgia,” 

“Smith for Congress,” “Bill McKay in ‘02”;

• Words urging action with respect to candidates 

associated with a particular issue, e.g., “vote 

Pro-Life”/ “vote Pro-Choice,” when accompanied 

by names or photographs of candidates 

identifi ed as either supporting or opposing the 

issue;

• “Defeat” accompanied by a photograph of the 

opposed candidate, the opposed candidate’s 

name or “reject the incumbent”; and

• Campaign slogan(s) or word(s), e.g., on posters, 

bumper stickers and advertisements, that in 

context can have no other reasonable meaning 

than to support or oppose a clearly identifi ed 

candidate, for example, “Nixon’s the One,” 

“Carter ‘76,” “Reagan/Bush.” 100.22(a).

“Only Reasonable Interpretation” Test

In the absence of such “explicit words of advocacy of election or defeat,” express advocacy 

(candidate advocacy) is found in a communication that, when taken as a whole and with limited 

reference to external events, such as the proximity to the election, can only be interpreted by 

a “reasonable person” as advocating the election or defeat of one or more clearly identifi ed 

candidate(s). 100.22(b)(1) and (2).5

This test requires advocacy of a candidate that 

is unmistakable, unambiguous and suggestive 

of only one meaning (that being the election or 

defeat of a candidate). 100.22(b)(1).

Note that the author’s intent is irrelevant. The 

test is how a “reasonable” receiver of the communication objectively interprets the message. If 

reasonable minds could not differ as to the unambiguous electoral advocacy of the communication, it is express advocacy (candidate advocacy) 

regardless of what the author intended.

Multiple-page communications or multiple 

inserts in the same envelope in a direct mail piece 

are to be read all together as a whole.

Internet Independent 

Expenditures

In AO 1999-37, a PAC generated express advocacy communications for electronic distribution 

through downloads and e-mail. Costs of registering and maintaining the web site or of computer 

hardware and software did not count as independent expenditures unless they were directly 

attributed to specifi c express advocacy communications such as maintaining a separate web site 

for or against specifi c candidates. On the other 

hand, the expenses of initially distributing an 

express advocacy communication through e-mail 

were considered an independent expenditure. 

The PAC was not required to collect information 

on those individuals who downloaded the PAC’s 

advertisements and used them for their own 

political activity. 

5 Three federal courts have found invalid 11 CFR 100.22(b), 

the FEC regulation containing the ‘only reasonable interpretation’ test: Maine Right to Life Committee v. FEC (1st

Circuit Court of Appeals, 1996); Right to Life of Dutchess 

County v. FEC County v. FEC (NY district court, 1998); and (NY district court, 1998); and Virginia 

Society for Human Life, Inc. v. FEC (4th Circuit Court of 

Appeals, 2001). See also, FEC v. Christian Action Network

(4th Circuit Court of Appeals, 1996) and Iowa Right to Life 

Committee, Inc. v. Williams (8th Circuit Court of Appeals, 

1999).But see FEC v. Furgatch (9th Circuit Court of Appeals, 1987) upon which 100.22(b) was based.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

47 Chapter 9

Disclaimer Notice Required

A communication representing an independent 

expenditure must display a disclaimer notice. See 

the next page for more information.

Allocation Among Candidates

When an independent expenditure is made on behalf of more than one clearly identifi ed candidate, 

the committee must allocate the expenditure 

among the candidates in proportion to the benefi t that each is expected to receive. For example, 

in the case of a published or broadcast communication, the attribution should be determined by 

the proportion of space or time devoted to each 

candidate in comparison with the total space 

or time devoted to all the candidates. 104.10; 

106.1(a).

Reporting Requirements

A party committee must report all independent 

expenditures. Reporting requirements are explained on page 76.

Contributing to Committees That 

Make Independent Expenditures

A contribution by a party committee to a committee that makes independent expenditures is 

subject to the $5,000 per calendar year limit. 

110.1(d).

A contribution to a committee that supports 

only one candidate, however, is subject to the 

committee’s per candidate, per election limit. 

110.1(h).

4. Communications that 

are Federal Election 

Activity

Certain activities are restricted under the Act 

when they qualify as federal election activity 

(FEA). The restrictions include certain communications. 

A public communication that refers to a clearly 

identifi ed candidate for federal offi ce and that 

promotes, attacks, supports or opposes any 

candidate for federal offi ce is FEA. The communication does not need to expressly advocate 

the election or defeat of the federal candidate to 

qualify as federal election activity.

For further information on all types of federal 

election activity, see chapter 8.

5. Electioneering 

Communications

Certain communications by unregistered party 

organizations may qualify as electioneering communications. Those same communications by 

registered party committees will not be deemed 

electioneering communications.

Electioneering communications are any broadcast, cable or satellite communication that 1) 

refers to a clearly identifi ed federal candidate, 

2) is publicly distributed within 60 days of a 

general election or 30 days of a primary, and 3) is 

targeted to the relevant electorate, in the case of 

House and Senate candidates. 100.29(a).

Electioneering communications must be paid 

for with funds that are not from corporations, 

labor organizations or other prohibited sources.6

Unregistered political organizations report 

electioneering communications on Form 9. However, registered party political committees simply 

report them as disbursements on Form 3X.

For more information, see the brochure “Electioneering Communications,” available from the 

FEC.

6 Unregistered party organizations that incorporate for liability purposes nonetheless may use permissable funds to 

make electioneering communications. 114.2(b)(2)(iii).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

48 Chapter 9

6. Disclaimer Notices on 

Communications

Any public communication made by a political 

committee–including communications that do 

not expressly advocate the election or defeat of 

a clearly identifi ed federal candidate or solicit a contribution–must display a disclaimer. 

110.11(a)(1). 

Types of Communications

The disclaimer requirements apply to public communications, including “communications through 

any broadcast, cable or satellite transmission, 

newspaper, magazine, outdoor advertising facility, 

mailing or other type of general public political 

advertising.” 100.26.

These requirements also apply to political committees’ web sites, to unsolicited e-mail of more 

than 500 substantially similar communications 

and to any “electioneering communication.”

Wording of Disclaimer

Communications not Authorized by a 

Candidate

Communications not authorized by a candidate 

or his/her campaign committee, including any 

solicitation, must disclose the permanent street 

address, telephone number or web site address 

of the person who paid for the communication, 

and also state that the communication was not 

authorized by any candidate. 110.11(b) and 

110.11(d)(3).

Example: “Paid for by the XYZ State Party 

Committee (www.XYZ.org) and not authorized by 

any candidate or candidate’s committee.”

For a radio or television communication that is 

not authorized by a candidate, a representative 

of the individual or group paying for the communication must state that “XXX is responsible for 

this communication,” where “XXX” is the name of 

the political committee or other person who paid 

for the communication. If applicable, the name of 

the sponsoring committee’s connected organization is also required in the disclaimer.7

Communications Authorized by a Candidate

The disclaimer for a communication authorized 

by a candidate or candidate’s committee, but 

paid for by any other person, must state both 

who paid for the communication and that it was 

authorized by that candidate.

Example: “Paid for by the XYZ State Party 

Committee and authorized by the John Doe for 

Congress Committee.”

Coordinated Party Expenditures

On a communication that is made as a coordinated party expenditure before a nominee is chosen, 

the disclaimer notice need only identify the committee that paid for the message. 110.11(d).

Example: “Paid for by the XYZ State Party 

Committee.”

Once a candidate has been nominated for the 

general election, the disclaimer notice must also 

state who authorized the communication and 

comply with the other applicable requirements 

listed below.

Example: “Paid for by the XYZ State Party 

Committee and authorized by John Doe for Congress Committee.”

Exempt Party Activity

On exempt activity communication such as 

campaign materials, the disclaimer notice must 

identify the committee that paid for the message, 

but need not state whether the communication is 

authorized by a candidate.

Example: “Paid for by the XYZ State Party 

Committee.”

Visibility Requirements

All disclaimers must be “clear and conspicuous” 

regardless of the medium in which the communication is transmitted. A disclaimer is not 

clear and conspicuous if it is diffi cult to read 

or hear, or if its placement is easily overlooked. 

110.11(c)(1).

Specifi c requirements for radio 

and television communications.

For radio and television communications authorized by a candidate, the candidate must 

deliver an audio statement identifying himself or 

herself, and stating that he or she has approved 

the communication. For example, the candidate 

could state “My name is _____ and I approved this 

7 In addition, communications transmitted through telephone 

banks, defi ned by 11 CFR 100.28 as more than 500 substantially similar calls within 30 days, must carry this same 

disclaimer statement. 
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

49 Chapter 9

8 Please note these examples do not constitute the only 

ways to satisfy the color contrast requirement. 

message.” See AOs 2004-10 and 2004-1. For a 

television communication, this disclaimer must be 

conveyed by either:

• A full-screen view of the candidate making the 

statement; or 

• A “clearly identifi able photographic or 

similar image of the candidate” that appears 

during the candidate’s voice-over statement. 

110.11(c)(3)(ii)(A) and (B). 

In the case of a televised ad not authorized by 

a candidate, the disclaimer must also include a 

statement that is conveyed by a full screen view 

of a representative of the political committee or 

other person making the statement, or a voiceover by the representative. 

Both authorized and unauthorized television 

communications must also contain a “clearly 

readable” written statement that appears at the 

end of the communication, for a period of at 

least four seconds with a reasonable degree of 

color contrast between the background and the 

disclaimer statement. The written statement must 

occupy at least four percent of the vertical picture height, and it must be shown for a period of 

four seconds. 110.11(c)(3)(iii) and 110.11(c)(4). 

Safe harbor for television 

communication disclaimers

A still picture of the candidate shall be considered “clearly identifi able” if it occupies at least 80 

percent of the vertical screen height; and 

Disclaimers that are printed in black text on 

a white background, as well as disclaimers that 

have at least the same degree of contrast with 

the background color as the degree of contrast between the background color and the 

color of the largest text used in the communication, will be considered “clearly readable.” 

110.11(c)(3)(iii)(C).

Specifi c requirements for printed 

communications.

Printed materials must contain a printed box that 

is set apart from the contents in the communication. The disclaimer print in this box must be of 

suffi cient type size to be “clearly readable” by 

the recipient of the communication, and the print 

must have a reasonable degree of color contrast 

between the background and the printed statement. 110.11(c)(2)(ii) and (iii).

The regulations contain a safe harbor that 

establishes a fi xed, twelve-point type size as a suffi cient size for disclaimer text in newspapers, magazines, fl yers, signs and other printed communications that are no larger than the common poster 

size of 24 inches by 36 inches. 110.11(c)(2)(i). 

Disclaimers for larger communications will be 

judged on a case-by-case basis. 

The regulations additionally provide two safe 

harbor examples that would comply with the 

color-contrast requirement:

• The disclaimer is printed in black text on a white 

background; or 

• The degree of contrast between the background 

color and the disclaimer text color is at least 

as great as the degree of contrast between the 

background color and the color of the largest 

text in the communication. 110.11(c)(2)(iii).8

Multiple-Paged Document

A disclaimer need not appear on the front 

page or cover of a multiple-paged document. 

110.11(c)(2)(iv).

Package of Materials

Each communication that would require a disclaimer if distributed separately must still display the disclaimer when included in a package 

of materials. 110.11(c)(2)(v). For example, if a 

campaign poster is mailed with a solicitation for 

contributions, a separate disclaimer must appear 

on the solicitation and the poster.

When Disclaimer Not Required

A disclaimer is not required:

• When it cannot be conveniently printed (e.g., 

pens, bumper stickers, campaign pins, campaign 

buttons and similar small items).

• When its display is not practicable (e.g., 

clothing, water towers and skywriting).

• When the item is of minimal value, does not 

contain a political message and is used for 

administrative purposes (e.g., checks and 

receipts). 110.11(f). See AOs 2004-10 and 

2002-9.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

50 Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

Keeping Records

1. Treasurer’s Duties

The treasurer is responsible for complying with 

recordkeeping requirements, even if he or she 

appoints someone else to keep the committee’s 

records. Advisory Opinion (AO) 1995-10. The 

treasurer is responsible for:

• Keeping required records on all receipts and 

disbursements. 102.9(a) and (b)(1); see 

also 104.3(a)(2), (a)(4), (b)(1), and (b)(3). 

(Specifi c requirements are explained below.)

• Retaining a copy of each statement, disclosure 

report and notice fi led under the Federal 

Election Campaign Act (the Act), along with 

original backup records relevant to the report or 

notice (such as bank statements, paid invoices, 

etc.). 104.14(b)(1) and (2).

• Preserving the above records for 3 years after 

the related report or statement is fi led and 

making them available to the Commission upon 

request. 102.9(c) and 104.14(b)(3).

• Exercising “best efforts” to obtain, maintain 

and report required information and keeping a 

complete written record on such efforts for the 

required 3-year period. 102.9 (d). See page 52.

2. Receipts

Records Needed

With respect to receipts, the Act requires that 

records be kept only for contributions. Nevertheless, committees are advised to keep records on 

all receipts in order to comply with the reporting 

requirements (Chapter 12).

All Receipts

For each receipt, a treasurer should record the 

following information:

• Amount received;

• Date of receipt; and

• Name and address of source. See 102.9(a)(1).

Contributions Aggregating Over $200

Records must additionally identify the occupation and employer of an individual contributor 

whose contribution exceeds $200 or aggregates 

over $200 when added to previous contributions made during the calendar year. 100.12 and 

102.9(a)(2).

Contributions over $50

In addition to any other recordkeeping requirements, committees must retain a full-size photocopy or digital image of the check for any 

contribution over $50. 102.9(a)(4).

Small Contributions Collected at Fundraising 

Event

When a committee receives a large number of 

contributions of $50 or less at a fundraising 

event, records need identify only the name of 

the event and the total amount received on each 

day of the event. AOs 1981-48 and 1980-99. 

These amounts are reported under the category 

“unitemized contributions from individuals” (see 

page 66).

Small Contributions Collected Through Tax 

Checkoff

When a committee receives small contributions 

in the form of state tax checkoff funds (see page 

16), records on individual contributors are not 

required. The contributions are reported as 

“unitemized contributions from individuals.” AO 

1983-15. However, the committee must keep a 

record of the state government source, the date 

of receipt and the amount received.

Reattributed Contributions

For each reattributed contribution, a committee 

must keep a copy of the reattribution as well as 

documentation verifying that the reattribution 

was received within 60 days after the committee’s 

receipt of the original contribution. If these 

records are not kept, the reattribution is not effective. 102.9(f); 110.1(k)(3)(ii)(A); 110.1(l)(3), 

(5) and (6).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

51 Chapter 10

Possibly Illegal Contributions

A committee must keep a written record noting 

the basis for concern for each deposited contribution that:

• Requires a written reattribution from the 

contributor; or

• Requires confi rmation that it is not from a 

prohibited source. 103.3(b)(5).

See “Handling Illegal Contributions,” page 19.

Date of Receipt

General Rule

A contribution’s date of receipt is the date on 

which the person receiving the contribution on 

behalf of the committee obtains possession of it. 

102.8(a) and (b)(2). That is the date used for 

recordkeeping and reporting.

The date of receipt may be earlier than the 

date the committee treasurer receives the money, 

since a person collecting contributions (other 

than an authorized agent) has 10 days (or 30 

days for contributions of $50 or less) in which 

to forward them to the treasurer. 102.8(b). (See 

“Forwarding Contributions,” page 18.)

Contributions Charged on Credit Cards

When the committee receives contributions 

through credit card charges, the date of receipt 

is the date on which the committee receives the 

contributor’s signed authorization to charge the 

contribution. The treasurer should retain a copy 

of the authorization form in the committee’s 

records. See, e.g., AO 1990-4; see also AOs 

1995-9 and 1999-22.

In-Kind Contributions

The date of receipt for an in-kind contribution 

is the date the goods or services are provided 

to the committee, even if the contributor pays 

the bill for the goods or services after they are 

provided. See 110.1(b)(6).

(For information on how to determine the value 

an in-kind contribution, see page 10.)

Deposit of Receipts

Once the treasurer (or authorized agent) receives 

a contribution or other receipt, he or she must 

deposit it within 10 days. Contributions not deposited within 10 days must be returned to their 

donors. 103.3(a).

3. Disbursements

Check and Cash Disbursements

Disbursements must be made by check or similar 

draft drawn on an account maintained at the 

committee’s designated campaign depository. 

102.10 and 103.3(a).

A committee may make disbursements from a 

petty cash fund, but petty cash payments to one 

person for any one purchase or transaction may 

not exceed $100. 102.11. 

Regardless of whether a disbursement is made 

by check or from a petty cash fund, the required 

recordkeeping information must be maintained.

Records Needed

All Disbursements

Each disbursement must be identifi ed by:

• Date;

• Amount of payment; 

• Name and address of payee; and

• Purpose of disbursement (a brief explanation 

of why the disbursement was made, such as 

“dinner expenses” or “postage”). 102.9(b)(1).

Disbursements Exceeding $200

For each disbursement of more than $200, 

the committee must keep a receipt, invoice or 

canceled check (in addition to the information 

above). 102.9(b)(2).

Contributions and Expenditures on Behalf of 

Candidates

A committee must keep the following records on 

contributions and expenditures made on behalf of 

candidates:

• Date;

• Amount;

• Name of candidate and offi ce sought by 

candidate, including the state and, for 

House candidates, Congressional district 

(102.9(b)(1)(ii) and (iii)); and

• Election for which a contribution was made (to 

facilitate reporting).

Credit Card Transactions

For each credit card transaction, a committee 

must retain a monthly billing statement or customer receipt and the canceled check used to pay 

the account. 102.9(b)(2)(ii).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

52 Chapter 10

Credit Union Checks or Share Drafts

A committee may use carbon copies of share 

drafts or checks drawn on a credit union account 

provided it also retains the monthly account 

statement (showing that the draft or check was 

paid by the credit union). 102.9(b)(2)(iii).

4. Treasurer’s Best Efforts

Party committees and their treasurers must make 

best efforts to obtain, maintain and report the 

information required by law with respect to itemized receipts and disbursements. 102.9(d). When 

reporting information is incomplete, the committee and the treasurer will be in compliance with 

the law if they can demonstrate that they used 

“best efforts” in trying to obtain and report the 

needed information. 104.7(a). The criteria for 

making “best efforts” vary, depending on the type 

of transaction.

Contributor Information

If an individual who has contributed more than 

$200 during the calendar year fails to provide 

the required recordkeeping information (i.e., 

name, address, occupation and employer), the 

committee must be able to show that it made 

“best efforts” to obtain and report that information. To demonstrate “best efforts,” the committee must be able to show that it requested the 

information—fi rst, in the solicitation materials 

that prompted the contribution and, second, in 

a follow-up request. Furthermore, if requested 

information is not received until after the contribution has been reported, the committee must 

report the information using one of the procedures described under “File Amendments If 

Necessary,” below.

Solicitation Materials

To satisfy the “best efforts” standard, solicitation materials must include an accurate and clear 

statement of the law’s requirements for the collection and reporting of contributor information. 

The following examples are acceptable wording 

that may be included in the solicitations (other 

statements of similar meaning may also be used):

• Federal law requires us to use our best efforts 

to collect and report the name, mailing address, 

occupation and name of employer of individuals 

whose contributions exceed $200 in a 

calendar year.

• To comply with federal law, we must use best 

efforts to obtain, maintain, and submit the 

name, mailing address, occupation and name 

of employer of individuals whose contributions 

exceed $200 per calendar year.

The request and the statement must appear 

in a clear and conspicuous manner on both the 

committee’s solicitations and response materials. 

The request and statement will not be considered 

to be “clear and conspicuous” if:

• The request and statement are printed in 

smaller type than the solicitation and response 

materials;

• The printing is diffi cult to read; or

• The request and statement are placed where 

they may be easily overlooked. 104.7(b)(1).

Follow-Up Request Within 30 Days

If the contributor does not provide suffi cient reporting information when making a contribution, 

the committee must make at least one request for 

the information after the contribution is received. 

This follow-up request must be made for any 

solicited or unsolicited contribution that exceeds 

the $200 threshold and lacks the necessary 

information (see “Contributions Aggregating over 

$200” on page 50).

The request must be made within 30 days of 

receipt of the contribution; it may not include an 

additional solicitation or material on any other 

subject, but it may thank the contributor. The 

follow-up request may be made orally or in writing, but a written request must be accompanied 

by a pre-addressed postcard or envelope for the 

response. Requests made by telephone must be 

documented in a memorandum. A political committee may also use e-mail to request missing 

contributor information. AOs 1999-17 and 1995-

9. Committees must retain records of follow-up 

requests. 102.9(d) and 104.7(b)(2).

Use of Information from Prior 

Records

If the contributor does not respond to the follow-up request, but the committee possesses the 

information in its contributor records, fundraising 

records or prior reports fi led during the same 

two-year election cycle, then the committee must , then the committee must 

use that information when disclosing the contribution. 104.7(b)(3).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

53 Chapter 11

File Amendments If Necessary

If requested information about a contribution is 

received after the contribution has been disclosed on a report, the committee must either:

• File amendments to the original reports; or

• File a memo Schedule A with its next regularly Schedule A with its next regularly 

scheduled report, listing all contributions for 

which new contributor information has been 

received.

In either case, the entries must cross-reference 

to the prior reports to which they relate. However, 

the committee is only required to submit the 

information for contributions received during the 

current two-year election cycle. 104.7(b)(4). See 

“Filing Amendments” on page 83 for instructions 

on fi ling amendments.

Documenting a Contribution’s 

Legality

In order to determine whether a contribution of 

questionable legality was made by a permissible 

source and was not excessive, the treasurer must 

make at least one written or oral request for evidence of the contribution’s legality. 103.3(b)(1). 

See also page 19, “Handling Illegal 

Contributions.”

Documenting Disbursements

If a treasurer fails to receive a receipt, invoice 

or canceled check (required for disbursements 

exceeding $200), he or she must make at least 

one written effort per transaction to obtain a 

duplicate copy of the needed documentation. 

102.9(d).

CHAPTER 11

Filing FEC Reports

Once an organization has triggered political 

committee status, it must begin to fi le reports of 

receipts and disbursements on FEC Form 3X and 

supporting schedules.

This chapter explains when and where to fi le 

FEC reports.

1. Treasurer’s Duties

The treasurer of a committee has the following 

reporting responsibilities:

• Signing and fi ling complete, accurate reports 

and statements on time. 104.14(a) and (d).

• Making “best efforts” to obtain and report 

required information (see previous page). 

102.9(d) and 104.7(a).

• Retaining a copy of each report (and pertinent 

backup records) for 3 years. 102.9(c) and 

104.14(b).

• Continuing to fi le required reports until the 

committee has fi led a termination report and 

the FEC notifi es the party committee that the 

termination report has been accepted. 102.3(a).

In the treasurer’s absence, only an assistant 

treasurer designated on the committee’s Statement of Organization may sign reports and assume the treasurer’s duties. 102.7(a). See page 6 

for more information.

2. Reporting Deadlines

Report on Time

Committee treasurers must fi le reports on time. 

The Commission cannot grant extensions to 

reporting deadlines. Filing reports late or not at 

all may result in enforcement action, including 

administrative fi nes. See below.

Filing Date

Unless sent by registered or certifi ed mail, priority 

or express mail having a delivery confi rmation or 

an overnight delivery service with an online tracking system, a report is considered to be fi led on 

time if it reaches the appropriate federal and state 
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

54 Chapter 11

Administrative Fines for Late 

Filers and Nonfi lers

The Commission has implemented an Administrative Fine Program, based on amendments to the 

Federal Election Campaign Act,1 for assessing civil 

money penalties for violations involving:

• Failure to fi le reports on time;

• Failure to fi le reports at all; and

• Failure to fi le 48-hour notices (campaign 

committees). 111.30.

If the Commission fi nds “reason to believe” 

(RTB) that a committee violated the law, the 

Commission will notify the committee in writing 

of its fi nding and the amount of the civil money 

penalty.2 The committee will have 40 days to 

either pay the penalty or submit a written challenge to the Commission action. If the committee 

challenges the fi nding, the Commission will turn 

the case over to an independent reviewing offi cer 

who was not involved in the RTB fi nding. After 

the Commission considers the reviewing offi cer’s 

recommendation and the committee’s response to 

it, the Commission will make a fi nal determination 

whether the committee violated 2 U.S.C. §434(a) 

and, if so, will assess a civil money penalty based 

on the schedule of penalties. If the committee 

does not respond to the Commission’s original 

RTB fi nding, the Commission also will make a fi nal 

determination with an appropriate civil money 

penalty. The committee will then have 30 days to 

pay the penalty or seek court review of the case.3

Information on Reporting Dates

To ensure timely fi ling, treasurers (and those who 

fi ll out reports) should read the FEC reporting 

notices mailed two weeks before most reporting 

deadlines. They should also consult the FEC’s 

newsletter, the Record, and the FEC’s web site , and the FEC’s web site 

(www.fec.gov) for upcoming reporting dates. 

1 Public Law 106-58, 106th Cong., Section 640, 113 Stat. 

430, 476-77 (1999). See also Public Law 108-199, 108th 

Cong., Section 639, 118 State 3, 359, (2004).

2 The civil money penalty is calculated according to a set 

schedule that may be viewed at the FEC’s web site (www.

fec.gov) and at 11 CFR 111.43. In those cases where the 

report in question has not been fi led, the civil money 

penalty included with the RTB fi nding will be based upon 

the estimated level of activity. 

3 For more information on the Administrative Fine Program, 

see 11 CFR 111.30 to 111.45, Subpart B.

fi ling offi ces by close of business on the fi ling 

date. 104.5(e). Thus, reports fi led by fi rst class 

mail or by hand delivery must be received by the 

FEC by the fi ling date.

A fi ling date is not extended even if it falls on a 

weekend or holiday, when fi ling offi ces are closed. 

In such cases, the report should reach the fi ling 

offi ces by the last working day before the 

fi ling date.

Registered, Certified, Priority or Express 

Mailing Date

If a report is sent by registered or certifi ed mail, 

or by priority or express mail having a delivery 

confi rmation, it is considered fi led on time if 

postmarked by the fi ling date. Exception: In the 

case of a pre-election report, the report must be 

postmarked at least three days before the fi ling 

date. 104.5(e).

Overnight Delivery Date

If a report is sent by overnight delivery service 

with an online tracking system, it is considered 

fi led on time if delivered to the overnight service 

by the fi ling date. Committees should keep the 

mailing receipt with its postmark, or a similar 

document if a private overnight delivery service is 

used, as proof of fi ling.

Exception: In the case of a pre-election report, 

the report must be delivered to the overnight 

service at least three days before the fi ling date.

Electronic Filing

An electronic report is considered “fi led” when 

it is received and validated by the Commission’s 

computer system on or before 11:59 p.m. (in 

Washington, D.C.) on the fi ling date. Incomplete 

or inaccurate reports that do not pass the FEC’s 

validation program will not be considered fi led. 

The Commission will notify the fi ler if the report 

is not accepted. If the report is accepted, the 

Commission will send the fi ler a receipt.

An electronic fi ler that fi les its report on paper, 

instead of electronically, is considered a nonfi ler. 

104.18(e)(2).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

55 Chapter 11

3. When to File 

General rules on when to fi le reports are outlined 

below. To assist treasurers, the FEC sends committees notices of upcoming report deadlines. Additionally, the Record, the FEC’s monthly newslet- , the FEC’s monthly newsletter, publishes reporting announcements, as does 

the FEC’s web site, www.fec.gov.

Monthly Reporting

All national party committees and any state, 

district or local party committee that engages in 

reportable FEA must fi le monthly. 300.36(c).

All committees, including those which fi le 

monthly, must fi le a year-end report due January 31st of the next year. Also, in even-numbered years, party committees that generally fi le 

monthly reports fi le pre-general and post-general 

election reports in lieu of the reports otherwise 

due in November and December.

Other State, district and local party committees 

may fi le quarterly in election years and semiannually in nonelection years. They may also choose 

to fi le monthly. 104.5(c). See page 57.

Election Year Reporting for 

Quarterly Filers 

Election years are years in which there are regularly scheduled federal elections (i.e., even-numbered years). The following reports are required 

from committees fi ling on a quarterly schedule 

during an election year:

Three Quarterly Reports

Under the quarterly schedule, a committee 

must fi le three quarterly reports, due respectively on the 15th of April, July and October. A 

quarterly report covers activity that occurred 

after the closing date of the previous report 

through the end of the calendar quarter (i.e., 

through March 31, June 30 and September 30). 

104.5(c)(1)(i)(A)–(B).

The Commission will waive a quarterly report if a pre-election report (see below) is due 

between the 5th through the 15th of the month 

following the close of the calendar quarter 

104.5(c)(1)(i)(C). Committees should check with 

the FEC to verify a quarterly report waiver.

Primary Election Reporting

12-Day Pre-Primary Report

In addition to fi ling quarterly reports, a committee 

may have to fi le pre-primary reports. A pre-primary report is required if the committee makes 

contributions or expenditures in connection with 

a primary election during the coverage dates for 

the primary report: the day following the close of 

books of the previous report through the 20th 

day before the primary. The report is due no later 

than the 12th day before the primary election. 

If sent by registered, certifi ed mail, or priority or 

express mail having a delivery confi rmation, the 

report must be postmarked no later than the 

15th day before the election. 104.5(a)(1)(i). 

To avoid the pre-primary fi ling obligation, a 

committee may change from a quarterly to a 

monthly fi ling schedule; see page 57.

Note that the FEC does not automatically send 

party committee treasurers notices and forms for 

pre-primary reports. The treasurer is responsible 

for determining whether the committee must fi le a 

pre-election report.

Example: A committee fi les its fi rst quarterly 

report, covering activity through the March 31 

closing date. On May 17, the committee makes a 

contribution to a candidate running in a June 7 

primary. Because the May 17 contribution falls 

within the coverage dates for the pre-primary, 

i.e., from April 1 (day after the closing date of 

previous report) through May 18 (20 days before 

election), the committee must fi le the pre-primary 

report. The report must reach the appropriate 

state and federal fi ling offi ces by May 26 (12 days 

before election). If sent by registered or certifi ed 

mail, or priority or express mail having a delivery 

confi rmation, the report must be postmarked by 

May 23 (15 days before election).

The committee’s next report is the second 

quarterly report, due July 15. It should cover 

activity from May 19 (day after closing date of 

pre-primary report) through June 30. Because 

this is not a pre-election report, the report may 

be postmarked as late as the July 15 fi ling date if 

sent by registered or certifi ed mail, or priority or 

express mail having a delivery confi rmation.

No Post-Primary Report

There is no requirement for a post-primary report. By contrast, all party committees must fi le a 

post-general election report, as explained below.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

56 Chapter 11

General Election Reporting

12-Day Pre-General Election Report

A committee must fi le a pre-general election 

report covering activity that occurred after the 

closing date of the previous report through the 

20th day before the general election if the committee makes contributions or expenditures in 

connection with the general election during that 

period. The report is due no later than the 12th 

day before the general election unless sent by 

registered or certifi ed mail, or priority or express 

mail having a delivery confi rmation, in which case 

the report must be postmarked no later than the 

15th day before the election. 104.5(c)(1)(ii).

30-Day Post-General Election Report

Regardless of its activity, a party committee must 

fi le a post-general election report. The report 

covers activity that occurred after the closing 

date of the previous report through the 20th day 

after the general election. The report is due 30 

days after the election. 104.5(c)(1)(iii).

Example: A party committee that does not 

engage in federal election activity fi les its third 

quarterly report, covering activity through September 30. On October 1, the committee makes 

a coordinated party expenditure on behalf of a 

candidate running in the general election. (For 

purposes of this example, the general election is 

on November 5.) The committee must therefore 

fi le a pre-general election report to disclose the 

October 1 expenditure. The report covers activity 

from October 1 (day after closing date of previous report) through October 16 (20 days before 

election). It is due by October 24 (12 days before election). Because it is a pre-election report, 

it must be postmarked no later than October 21 

(15 days before election) if sent by registered or 

certifi ed mail, or priority or express mail having a 

delivery confi rmation.

Although the committee does not make any 

further contributions or expenditures in connection with the general election, it is still required 

to fi le a post-general election report. The report 

covers activity from October 17 (day after closing 

date of pre-election report) through November 

25 (20 days after the November 5 election). It 

must be received by the appropriate federal fi ling 

offi ce by December 5 (30 days after election) or 

postmarked by that date if sent by registered or 

certifi ed mail, or priority or express mail having a 

delivery confi rmation.

Year-End Report

A year-end report, covering activity from the 

close of the previous report through December 

31, is due on January 31 of the following year. 

104.5(c)(1)(i)(A)–(B).

Nonelection Year Reporting for 

Quarterly Filers

Nonelection years are years in which there are no 

regularly scheduled federal elections (i.e., oddnumbered years).

During a nonelection year, quarterly fi lers 

automatically switch to a semiannual reporting 

schedule. Two semiannual reports are required:

• The mid-year report, covering activity from 

January 1 through June 30, must be fi led by July 

31; and

• The year-end report, covering activity from 

July 1 through December 31, must be fi led by 

January 31 of the following year. 104.5(c)(2)(i).

If the committee makes contributions or expenditures in connection with a special election, it 

may have additional reporting responsibilities, as 

explained below.

4. Monthly Reporting 

Monthly Filing Schedule

A committee fi ling on a monthly schedule fi les 

reports covering each month’s activity by the 

20th of the following month. For example, January 

activity is fi led in the monthly report due February 20. There are, however, certain exceptions to 

this schedule in both election and nonelection 

years. 104.5(c)(3)(ii) and 104.5(k).

Election Year Reporting

In an election year, the last regularly scheduled 

monthly report is the one covering September 

activity (due October 20). In lieu of the reports 

covering October and November activity, the 

committee fi les a 12-day pre-general election 

report and a 30-day post-general election report. 

The last report of the year, covering activity that 

occurred from the closing date of the post-general report through December 31, is the year-end 

report, due by January 31 of the following year. 

104.5(c)(3)(ii); see also 2 U.S.C. §434(a)(4)(b).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

57 Chapter 11

Nonelection Year Reporting

There may be two exceptions to regular monthly 

reporting in a nonelection year. First, the last 

report of the year, normally covering December 

activity, is called a year-end report and is due 

January 31. 104.5(c)(3)(i) – (ii); see also 2 

U.S.C. 434(a)(4)(B). Second, a monthly report 

may be waived by the FEC for committee fi ling 

special election reports if a monthly report is due 

within 10 days of the date of the special election 

report is due. 104.5(h).

Changing the Filing Schedule

Committees that are not required to fi le monthly 

may change their fi ling schedule from quarterly 

to monthly (or vice versa) only once per calendar 

year. The treasurer must notify the FEC in writing 

at the time it fi les a required report under its 

current fi ling schedule before changing its fi ling 

schedule. The committee will then be required to 

fi le the next report under its new fi ling schedule. 

Electronic fi lers must fi le this notifi cation electronically. 104.5(c).

5. Special Elections

Committees making contributions or expenditures 

in connection with a special election may be required to fi le special election reports. Filing dates 

for special elections are published in the Federal 

Register and the FEC Record. 104.5(h)(1). Com- . 104.5(h)(1). Committees fi ling on a monthly basis, however, are 

not required to fi le special election reports (see 

below).

If a regularly scheduled report is due within 10 

days of the date a special election report is due, 

the Commission may waive the regular report for 

committees required to fi le the special election 

report. 104.5(h)(2). Committees should check 

with the FEC to verify whether a report has been 

waived.

6. Electronic Filing

A committee must fi le all reports and statements 

electronically if it receives contributions or 

makes expenditures that exceed $50,000 in any 

calendar year, or expects to do so. Committees 

that are required to fi le electronically, but that fi le 

on paper or fail to fi le, will be considered nonfi lers and may be subject to enforcement action. 

104.18(a)(2). See page 54, “Administrative Fines 

for Late Filers and Nonfi lers.”

Because electronic fi ling is more effi cient and 

cost effective than paper fi ling, even committees that do not meet the $50,000 threshold 

requirement are encouraged to choose to fi le 

their reports electronically. Please note, however, 

that voluntary electronic fi lers must continue to 

fi le electronically for the remainder of the calendar year unless the Commission determines that 

unusual circumstances make continued electronic 

fi ling impractical. 104.18(b).

Methods of Electronic Filing

Most committees fi ling electronically fi nd it 

convenient to do so via an Internet connection with a password (see “Treasurer’s Duties” 

on page 5). Committees may, however, submit 

their electronic reports on 3.5” diskettes (either 

hand delivered or sent by other means such as 

U.S. Postal Service). Electronic fi lers must fi le all

their reports electronically, and the reports must 

adhere to the FEC’s Electronic Filing Specifi cations Requirements.4 104.18(d). Committees 

fi ling electronically on diskette must also submit 

a written certifi cation–signed by the treasurer or 

assistant treasurer–either on paper (e.g. a signed 

fi rst page of FEC Form 3X) or as a separate fi le 

with the electronic report, verifying that the 

treasurer has examined the documents and that, 

to the best of his or her knowledge, the report is 

correct, complete and true. 104.18(g)

4 Available online at the FEC web site www.fec.gov or on 

paper from the FEC.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

58 Chapter 11

Calculating the Threshold

Committees should use the following formulas to 

determine if their total expenditures or total contributions are over $50,000 per calendar year:

Total Contributions Received5

 - Refunds of Contributions

 + Transfers from Affi liated or Other Party 

 Committees

 = Total Contributions 

or

Total Federal Expenditures

 + Federal Contributions Made

 + Transfers to Affi liated Federal Committees or

 Other Party Committees

 + Independent Expenditures

 + Coordinated Party Expenditures

 = Total Expenditures

Have Reason to Expect to Exceed 

the Threshold

Once committees actually exceed the $50,000 

yearly threshold, they have “reason to expect 

to exceed” the threshold in the following two 

calendar years. 104.18(a)(3)(i). Consequently, 

committees must continue to fi le electronically 

for the next two calendar years (January through 

December).

Committees With No History

New committees with no history of campaign 

fi nance activity have reason to expect to exceed 

the $50,000 yearly threshold if:

• The committee receives contributions or makes 

expenditures that exceed one-quarter of the 

threshold amount in the fi rst calendar quarter of 

the calendar year (i.e., exceeds $12,500 by the 

end of March); or

• The committee receives contributions or 

makes expenditures that exceed one-half of 

the threshold amount in the fi rst half of the 

calendar year (i.e., exceeds $ 25,000 by the 

end of June).

104.18(a)(3)(ii).

Verifi cation Requirements

The political committee’s treasurer must verify the 

electronically fi led reports by:

• Using a personal password from the FEC (see 

below); 

• Submitting a signed certifi cation on paper along 

with the diskette; or

• Submitting a digitized copy of the signed 

certifi cation as a separate fi le in an electronic 

submission.

The signed verifi cation must certify that the 

treasurer or assistant treasurer has examined the 

submitted report, and that, to the best of his or 

her knowledge, the report is true, correct and 

complete. 104.18(g).

Obtaining a Password

Requesting a Password

A committee’s treasurer or assistant treasurer can 

obtain a password by faxing a request letter to 

the password offi ce at 202/219-0674. Requests 

may also be mailed to the Federal Election Commission, 999 E Street N.W., Washington, DC 

20463. A password request must:

• Include the committee’s name and nine-digit 

FEC identifi cation number;

• Be signed by the treasurer and also by the 

assistant treasurer if the assistant treasurer is 

the individual requesting the password;

• Include the treasurer’s phone number and, if 

applicable, the phone number of the assistant 

treasurer; and

• Be printed on the committee’s letterhead (if the 

committee has offi cial letterhead).

A sample request can be viewed on the FEC’s 

web site at 

http://www.fec.gov/elecfi l/passreqlet.html.

Requests sent by fax can usually be processed 

within a few hours. However, committees are 

encouraged to request a password as early as 

possible. Requests received near a fi ling deadline 

may take as long as two or three business days to 

process, which may preclude timely fi ling.

Assigning the Password

Once the password offi ce receives the letter 

requesting a password, it will verify that the 

requester is listed as the treasurer (and assistant 

treasurer, if applicable) of that committee on that 

committee’s Statement of Organization (FEC Form 

1). Only the committee’s treasurer and assistant 

treasurer can receive a password. 

5 Including the outstanding balance of any loans.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

59 Chapter 11

If the requester is listed on the Statement of 

Organization, then a representative from the 

password offi ce will call the requester and ask 

him or her to choose a password. This password 

will be assigned immediately. Passwords are case 

sensitive and must be entered exactly as initially 

assigned.

If the requester is not listed on the Statement 

of Organization (e.g. the committee has a new 

treasurer), he or she must submit a password 

request letter, as described below.

New Treasurers

When a committee appoints a new treasurer, it 

must amend its Statement of Organization to 

disclose the change. In order to do so, the new 

treasurer may need to request a new password. 

Since the treasurer’s name and signature do not 

appear on the committee’s existing Statement 

of Organization, they must include the following 

sentence in the password request letter: “I represent that I am the duly appointed treasurer and 

have authority as such to sign FEC reports for the 

above committee.”

Once a password is received, the new treasurer 

can fi le the amended Form 1 to indicate the 

change of position.

Lost or Forgotten Password

The Commission cannot provide a treasurer’s 

password to a treasurer or committee if a treasurer forgets or loses the password because the 

passwords are encrypted. Instead, the treasurer 

must ask for a new password, repeating the process described above.

Special Requirements

The following documents have special signature 

and submission requirements:

• Schedule C1 (Loans and Line of Credit), 

including copies of loan agreements; and

• Form 8 (Debt Settlement Plan).

Schedule C1 and Form 8, in addition to being 

included in the electronic report, must be 

submitted on paper or in a digitized format 

(submitted as a separate fi le in the electronic 

report). 104.18(h).

7. Where to File

Committees must fi le FEC reports and statements 

simultaneously with the appropriate federal and 

state offi ces.

Federal Filing

Party committees fi le reports and statements with 

the Federal Election Commission, 999 E Street, 

N.W., Washington, DC 20463. 105.4. Exception: 

Party committees supporting only Senate candidates fi le with the Secretary of the Senate, 105.2.

Note also that notices of last-minute independent expenditures on behalf of Senate candidates 

must be fi led with the FEC. However, regularly 

scheduled reports of independent expenditures 

must be fi led with the Secretary of the Senate. 

Notices of last-minute expenditures supporting or 

opposing House or Presidential candidates must 

be fi led with the FEC. 104.4(b) and (c)(1) 

and (3).

State Filing

In addition to fi ling with the federal government, 

committees must simultaneously fi le copies of 

reports with the Secretary of State (or other 

designated state offi cer) only in those states that 

have not received a waiver from the requirement 

to maintain copies of FEC statements and reports, 

as explained below. 108.1.

A list of addresses of state fi ling offi ces is available from the FEC.

With respect to FEC forms and statements 

other than Form 3X and supporting schedules, 

copies must be fi led in the state in which the 

committee has its headquarters. 108.4.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

60 Chapter 11

State Filing Waiver

Committees do not have to fi le copies of reports 

and statements with states that:

• Provide the public with the means to 

electronically access and duplicate the reports 

available on the FEC web site; and 

• Have been granted a waiver by the Commission 

exempting them from the requirement to receive 

and maintain copies of FEC reports.6

108.1(b).

8. Public Review of Reports

All reports fi led by political committees are 

available for public inspection and copying in 

the FEC’s Public Records Offi ce. They are also 

available on the Commission’s website (www.fec.

gov). Copies of reports may also be purchased by 

mail. For more information, call 800/424-9530 

or 202/694-1120.

“Sale or Use” Restriction

The Act prohibits anyone from selling or using the 

names and addresses of individual contributors 

copied from FEC reports for commercial purposes 

or for the purpose of soliciting funds. This “sale 

or use” restriction, however, does not apply to 

the names and addresses of political committees 

that are disclosed in FEC reports. 104.15 and AO 

2003-24.

Sale or Use of Committee’s Contributor’s List

The sale or use restriction does not prevent a 

committee from compiling its own list of contributors and distributing it to others. Under certain 

conditions, a committee may donate, sell, trade or 

rent its own contributor list to other committees 

and organizations. AOs 2002-14, 1982-41 and 

1981-53.

“Salting” Reports to Detect Misuse

A committee may “salt” a report with up to 10 

fi ctitious contributors (referred to under the law 

as “pseudonyms”) to detect impermissible uses 

of individual contributor information by other 

organizations. 104.3 (e)(1) and (e)(2).

Using the subtotal of unitemized contributions 

for the reporting period, the committee allocates 

some of those funds as itemized contributions 

from fi ctitious contributors, providing a real 

address for each fi ctitious entry on Schedule A 

(such as the address of a volunteer or committee 

staff member). The committee must accordingly 

adjust its subtotals for itemized and unitemized contributions on the Detailed Summary 

Page. (The itemized total will be overstated, 

while the unitemized total will be understated.) 

104.3(e)(3).

On or before the day the committee fi les the 

report, it must send the list of the fi ctitious 

names used in the report under separate cover directly to the FEC’s Reports Analysis Division, 999 

E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20463. (The list 

should not be sent to any other fi ling offi ce.) The 

FEC will not make the list public. 104.3(e)(5).

If a solicitation or commercial mailing is sent to 

the fi ctitious names, the committee will know that 

someone has illegally used the names of contributors disclosed in the report. The committee may 

then fi le a complaint with the FEC.

6 As of June 2004, the following states and territories have 

not been granted a waiver by the Commission: Montana, been granted a waiver by the Commission: Montana, 

Puerto Rico and Guam. For an updated list of the states 

and territories that have been granted a waiver, see http://

www.fec.gov/pages/statefi ling.shtml For more information, 

see 11 CFR Part 108.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

61 Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

Completing FEC

Form 3X

1. Reporting Forms

FEC paper forms should be typed; printing in ink 

is also acceptable as long as the forms are legible. 

Because fi lings will be photocopied several times 

before being placed on the public record, the 

documents fi led with the Commission (or Secretary of the Senate, if appropriate) should be the 

originals. Committees submitting illegible documents will be required to refi le.

The treasurer should not forget to retain a 

photocopy of each report fi led with the Commission, along with the appropriate records, for three 

years.

Form 3X and Schedules

FEC Form 3X is the form used by party committees to disclose receipts and disbursements. 

The same form is used for all types of reports, 

including quarterly reports, semiannual reports, 

pre- and post-election reports and termination 

reports.

The Form 3X booklet contains:

• The Summary Page

• The Detailed Summary Page

• Schedule A—Itemized Receipts

• Schedule B—Itemized Disbursements

• Schedule C—Loans

• Schedule C-1—Loans and Lines of Credit from 

Lending Institutions

• Schedule D—Debts and Obligations

• Schedule E—Independent Expenditures

• Schedule F—Itemized Coordinated Party 

Expenditures

• Schedules H1-H6—Allocation of Federal 

Nonfederal and Levin Expenses (See Chapter 10 

for information on the allocation schedules.)

• Schedules L, L-A and L-B. – Receipts and 

Disbursements of Levin Funds

Information entered on the Summary Page and 

Detailed Summary Page is based on information 

from the schedules. The schedules, therefore, are 

normally fi lled out fi rst. The instructions in this 

chapter begin with Schedule A.

Electronic Filing

Committees fi ling with the FEC can take advantage of the electronic fi ling program. Reports 

can be fi led electronically on a 3.5” diskette, via 

modem or via the Internet. For more information 

about electronic fi ling, including the mandatory 

electronic fi ling requirements that apply to some 

committees, see page 57 of this guide or contact 

the FEC.

While what follows in this chapter applies to 

both paper and electronic fi lers, electronic fi lers 

should consult their software providers for additional information.

Computerized Forms

A committee that fi les on paper may use computer-produced versions of the Schedules included in 

Form 3X, but they must fi rst be submitted to the 

Commission for approval. This rule applies even 

if the committee is using commercial software advertised as approved for FEC reporting. 104.2(d). 

Committees may also submit computer-generated 

Summary and Detailed Summary Pages, but these 

pages must be reproductions of the original FEC 

forms. See AO 1992-11.

Alternatively, continuous-feed versions of the 

Summary Page and the Detailed Summary Page 

are available from the Commission for use in a 

computer printer. 

The committee should send samples of its proposed forms and schedules to the FEC’s Reports 

Analysis Division. 104.2(d); FEC Directive 37.

Forms Available on Faxline and 

FEC Web Site

Faxline

The reporting forms are available on the FEC’s 

fax-on-demand service, Faxline, at 202/501-

3413. Below are the document numbers of the 

reporting forms for party political committees: 

• Form 1—Statement of Organization—#801

• Form 3X—Financial Reporting for Unauthorized 

Committees—#804

• Schedule A—Itemized Receipts—#825

• Schedule B—Itemized Disbursements—#826

• Schedule C and C-1—Loans—#827
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

62 Chapter 12

• Schedule D—Debts and Obligations—#828

• Schedule E— Independent Expenditures--

#829

• Schedule F – Itemized Coordinated Party 

Expenditures -- #830

• Schedule H1-H6 – Allocation -- #831

• Schedules L, L-A, L-B – Aggregation Page, 

Receipts and Disbursements of Levin Funds -- 

#832

Web Site

All FEC reporting forms are also available on the 

FEC web site (www.fec.gov/info/forms.shtml).

2. Itemized Receipts: 

Schedule A

When to Itemize Receipts

Regardless of Amount

Several types of receipts must be itemized on 

Schedule A regardless of amount. They include:

• Contributions from political committees and 

similar organizations;

• Transfers from other party committees and party 

organizations;

• Transfers from nonfederal accounts and of Levin 

funds;

• Loans received;

• Loan payments received; and

• Refunded contributions received from political 

committees.

$200 Threshold

A receipt in any of the following categories must 

be itemized if it exceeds $200 per calendar year, 

either by itself or when aggregated with other 

receipts from the same source:

• Contributions from individuals and groups other 

than political committees;

• Offsets to operating expenditures (rebates, 

refunds and returns of deposits); and

• Other receipts (such as interest and dividends 

earned on invested funds).

Itemizing Receipts When Not Required

A committee that chooses to itemize all its receipts, regardless of the $200 threshold, should 

use a separate Schedule A to itemize the small 

contributions (i.e., receipts that do not aggregate over $200). The committee should include 

those receipts in the total for Line 11a(ii) on the 

Detailed Summary Page (see page 66).

Categorizing Receipts

Before beginning to itemize the committee’s 

receipts, separate them into the different categories listed on the Detailed Summary Page 

(“Contributions from Individuals,” “Contributions 

from Political Committees,” etc.; an illustration of 

a completed Detailed Summary Page appears on 

pages 66 and 70). The receipts in each category 

must be itemized on a separate Schedule A designated for that category.

Indicate the type of receipt itemized on a particular Schedule A by entering the corresponding 

line number from the Detailed Summary Page 

where indicated in the upper right corner of the 

schedule. The appropriate category of receipt 

may also be written at the top of each page.

Some categories may require several pages. The 

total for each category should be entered on the 

bottom line of the last page for that category.

Itemized Information

For each itemized receipt, provide:

• The full name and address (including zip code) 

of the contributor or other source;

• The name of the contributor’s employer (if the 

contributor is an individual);

• The contributor’s occupation (if the contributor 

is an individual);

• The date of receipt;

• The amount; 

• The aggregate, year-to-date total of all receipts 

(within the same category) from the same 

source. 104.3(a)(4); and

• The committee ID number of the contributor, if 

appropriate.

(The space indicating the election for which a 

contribution is made (“Receipt For”) should be 

left blank by a party committee unless the receipt 

is a refund of a contribution made to a candidate.)

Special Employer Information

If a contributor is self-employed, that should be 

recorded in the Employer space. If a contributor 

is not employed, the Employer space should be 

left blank, but the Occupation space should always be completed (e.g., “unemployed,” “retired,” 

“homemaker”).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

63 Chapter 12

Best Efforts Required

Apply “best efforts” to obtain and 

report the information listed above. 

See page 52 for information.

In-Kind Contributions

When determining whether to itemize an in-kind contribution, follow 

the same guidelines listed under 

“When to Itemize Receipts,” page 

62. See page 10 for information on 

how to determine the dollar value 

of an in-kind contribution.

In addition, add the value of 

the in-kind contribution to the 

operating expenditure total on 

Line 21b (in order to avoid infl ating the cash-on-hand amount). 

104.13(a)(2).

If the in-kind contribution must 

be itemized on Schedule A, then it 

must also be itemized on a Schedule B for operating expenditures 

(see illustration).

Appreciated Goods

When a committee receives an inkind contribution whose value may 

appreciate over time, such as stock 

or artwork, special reporting rules 

apply:

• Itemize the initial gift, if 

necessary, as a memo entry on Schedule A. 

Under “Amount,” report the fair market value 

of the contribution on the date the item was 

received. (Reminder: the amount is subject 

to the $10,000 contribution limit.) Do not 

include that amount in the total for Line 11a(i) 

on the Detailed Summary Page.

• Once the item is sold, report the sale price as 

a contribution on Line 11a(i) if the purchaser is 

known or as an “other receipt” on Line 15 if the 

purchaser is unknown. Itemize the transaction 

on Schedule A if necessary. 104.13(b). See also 

AO 1989-6.

FE3AN037.PDF

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Aggregate Year-to-Date

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M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

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SCHEDULE A (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED RECEIPTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SUBTOTAL of Receipts This Page (optional) ............................................................................

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

A.

FEC Schedule A (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

B.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

C.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF U (check only one) se separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page 11a 11b 11c 12

13 14 15 16 17

Freedom Party State Committee

Blank, Jerri

111 Lincoln Ave.

City ST 00000

03 18 2004

500.00

In-kind raffle prize

Eterna-Spring, Inc. Chief Executive Officer

500.00

X

1 1

FE3AN037.PDF

SCHEDULE B (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , .

SUBTOTAL of Disbursements This Page (optional) .................................................................. , , .

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

FEC Schedule B (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

A. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

B. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

C. Date of Disbursement

Use separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF

(check only one)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

21b 22 23 24 25 26

27 28a 28b 28c 29 30b

X

1 1

03 18 2004

500.00

in-kind

Raffle Prize

Blank, Jerri

111 Flatpoint Ave.

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS

Itemize in-kind contributions on both Schedules A and B so as not to infl ate 

the cash on hand balance.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

64 Chapter 12

Joint Contributions

A joint contribution is made by 

a single check (or other written 

instrument) that bears two signatures. A check with one signature 

may also be a joint contribution 

if an accompanying form or letter, signed by both contributors, 

instructs the committee to treat it 

as a joint contribution. (A check 

drawn on a joint bank account but 

signed by only one person does 

not qualify as a joint contribution 

absent an accompanying form or 

letter. Attribute the full amount of 

such a check only to the person 

who signed it. Alternatively, the 

committee may reattribute the 

contribution using the procedures 

described below.)

For the purposes of itemization, report a joint contribution as 

though the joint contributors had 

given separately.

A joint contribution is itemized 

in the illustration. The committee 

received a $1,000 check from 

Mr. and Mrs. Treadwell, signed 

by both. Because there were no 

instructions as to how to attribute 

the check, the committee must 

divide it equally between the 

two spouses—$500 from each. 

110.1(k)(2).

Reattributions

This section describes how to 

report contributions for which the 

committee has requested reattributions from contributors. (See

 page 19.)

Receipt of Original Contribution

When itemizing a contribution that must be reattributed to correct an excessive amount, include a 

statement on Schedule A noting that a reattribution has been requested. 103.3(b)(5).

FE3AN037.PDF

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Aggregate Year-to-Date

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M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

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SCHEDULE A (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED RECEIPTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SUBTOTAL of Receipts This Page (optional) ............................................................................

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

A.

FEC Schedule A (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

B.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

C.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF U (check only one) se separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page 11a 11b 11c 12

13 14 15 16 17

1 1

X

Treadwell, Geoffrey

111 Cherrywood Avenue

Kiln Productions Painter

07 02 2004

500.00

500.00

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

500.00

500.00

111 Cherrywood Avenue

City ST 00000

Treadwell, Sherry

Flatpoint High School Teacher

07 02 2004

JOINT CONTRIBUTIONS

REATTRIBUTION REQUESTED

FE3AN037.PDF

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Aggregate Year-to-Date

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M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

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SCHEDULE A (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED RECEIPTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SUBTOTAL of Receipts This Page (optional) ............................................................................

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

A.

FEC Schedule A (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

B.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

C.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF U (check only one) se separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page 11a 11b 11c 12

13 14 15 16 17

1 1

X

111 Rumcake Rd.

11,000.00

06 14 2004

11,000.00

Reattribution requested.

Blank, Bob

Lansing Sentinal Investigative Journalist

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

The entry should note that the committee has requested a reattribution to show it has taken corrective action for an excessive 

contribution.

Receipt of Reattribution

In the report covering the period during which 

the reattribution is received, itemize as memo 

entries:

• Information on the contribution as it was 

previously disclosed; and

• Information on the contribution as it was 

reattributed, including the date the reattribution 

was received. 104.8(d)(3).

(Memo entries are explained below.)
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

65 Chapter 12

Refund of Excessive Portion

If the committee does not receive 

the reattribution, the committee must refund the excessive 

portion within 60 days of the 

treasurer’s receipt of the contribution. Disclose the refund on the 

next report. 103.3(b)(3) and (5); 

104.8(d)(4). See also “Refunds 

Made by the Committee,” 

page 72.

Memo Entry 

Use a memo entry on a schedule 

(a dollar amount with the designation “memo”) to provide information about a particular transaction 

when the amount of that transaction is not to be included in the 

total fi gure for that schedule (and 

the corresponding line number on 

the Detailed Summary Page). For 

example, a memo entry is used to 

disclose a reattribution of a contribution whose dollar amount has 

already been included in the total 

for Line 11.

Bounced Checks

If a committee reports the receipt 

of a check and later fi nds it cannot 

be negotiated because of insuffi -

cient funds in the donor’s account, 

the committee deducts the amount 

from its next report as follows:

• If the receipt was not itemized 

in a previous report, deduct the 

amount of the check from the 

total for unitemized contributions 

(Line 11a(ii)) on the Detailed 

Summary Page).

• If the receipt was itemized 

previously, itemize the return of 

the check as a negative entry on 

a Schedule A for the appropriate 

line number.

Checks received and returned by the bank in 

the same reporting period do not need to be 

reported.

REATTRIBUTION RECEIVED

FE3AN037.PDF

, , .

, , .

, , .

Aggregate Year-to-Date

, , .

C

C , , .

C , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

, , .

SCHEDULE A (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED RECEIPTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SUBTOTAL of Receipts This Page (optional) ............................................................................

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

A.

FEC Schedule A (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

B.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

C.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF U (check only one) se separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page 11a 11b 11c 12

13 14 15 16 17

1 1

X

111 Rumcake Rd.

11,000.00

06 14 2004

11,000.00

MEMO - Reattribution.

Blank, Bob

Lansing Sentinal Investigative Journalist

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

111 Rumcake Rd.

Blank, Bob

City ST 00000

10,000.00

-1,000.00

Lansing Sentinal Investigative Journalist

07 11 2004

111 Rumcake Rd.

City ST 00000

Blank, Sara

Warner Theater Actress

MEMO - Reattribution below.

07 11 2004

1,000.00

MEMO - Originally disclosed

in July Quarterly Report. See

$1,000.00 reattribution below.

1,000.00

Use memo entries to show reattributions of excessive contributions

, , .

Aggregate Year-to-Date

, , .

C

C , , .

C , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

SCHEDULE A (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED RECEIPTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

A.

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

B.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

C.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF U (check only one) se separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page 11a 11b 11c 12

13 14 15 16 17

1 1

X

Deadbeat, John

111 Insolvency Lane

Self-employed Raconteur

06 27 2004

-250.00

0.00

Bounced check,

Originally disclosed in

April Quarterly Report.

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

RETURNED/BOUNCED CHECK
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

66 Chapter 12

3. Reporting 

Receipts: 

The Detailed 

Summary Page

Listed below are the categories 

of receipts found on the Detailed 

Summary Page. For each category, 

enter a total for the current period 

and for the year to date.

Line 11. Contributions

Report total monetary and in-kind 

contributions received, both itemized and unitemized.

Line 11a: Contributions from 

Individuals and Other Groups

Use Line 11a to report contributions from individuals and groups 

other than political committees 

(such as partnerships).

Itemize contributions that exceed 

the $200 aggregate threshold on 

Schedule A; enter the total on Line 

11a(i). Enter total unitemized contribution on Line 11a(ii). Enter total 

itemized and unitemized contributions from individuals/others on Line 11a(iii).

Line 11b: Political Party Committees

Leave this line blank: party committees report 

funds received from other party committees and 

party organizations as transfers-in on Line 12; see 

below.

Line 11c: Other Political Committees

Itemize contributions from nonparty political 

committees on Schedule A, regardless of amount, 

and enter the total on Line 11c.

Line 11d: Total Contributions

Enter the total of Lines 11a–c on Line 11d.

Line 12. Transfers-In

Itemize any transfers of funds received from other 

party committees or party organizations on a 

Schedule A (see example). Enter the total on 

Line 12.

Line 13. Loans Received

Itemize any loans received on a Schedule A. Enter 

the total amount on Line 13. Committees receiving loans must also fi le Schedules C and C-1. See 

page 79 for more information.

Line 14. Loan Repayments 

Received

Itemize any repayments received on loans made 

by the committee on a Schedule A. Enter the total 

on Line 14. Committees receiving loan repayments must also fi le Schedule C. See page 79.

THE DETAILED SUMMARY PAGE

FE3AN037.PDF

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M M / D D / Y Y Y Y M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

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Report Covering the Period: From: To:

COLUMN B

Calendar Year-to-Date

COLUMN A

Total This Period

11. Contributions (other than loans) From:

(a) Individuals/Persons Other

Than Political Committees

(i) Itemized (use Schedule A) ..........

(ii) Unitemized ....................................

(iii) TOTAL (add

Lines 11(a)(i) and (ii) ...............

(b) Political Party Committees .................

(c) Other Political Committees

(such as PACs) ..................................

(d) Total Contributions (add Lines

11(a)(iii), (b), and (c)) (Carry

Totals to Line 33, page 5) .............

12. Transfers From Affiliated/Other

Party Committees ......................................

13. All Loans Received ....................................

14. Loan Repayments Received .....................

15. Offsets To Operating Expenditures

(Refunds, Rebates, etc.)

(Carry Totals to Line 37, page 5) .............

16. Refunds of Contributions Made

to Federal Candidates and Other

Political Committees ..................................

17. Other Federal Receipts

(Dividends, Interest, etc.)...........................

18. Transfers from Non-Federal and Levin Funds

(a) Non-Federal Account

(from Schedule H3)............................

(b) Levin Funds (from Schedule H5) ........

(c) Total Transfers (add 18(a) and 18(b)).

19. Total Receipts (add Lines 11(d),

12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18(c))........

20. Total Federal Receipts

(subtract Line 18(c) from Line 19) ........

DETAILED SUMMARY PAGE

of Receipts

Write or Type Committee Name

I. Receipts

FEC Form 3X (Rev. 02/2003 ) Page 3

Freedom Party State Committee

08 01 2004 08 31 2004

10,562.27

9,982.57

20,544.84

0.00

0.00

20,544.84

2,156.85

5,000.00

0.00

250.00

1,000.00

181.69

9,383.32

38,516.70

29,133.38

6,400.00

2,983.32

97,967.46

0.00

0.00

97,967.46

5,605.69

5,000.00

0.00

250.00

1,000.00

851.88

14,224.30

7,824.30

6,400.00

124,899.33

114,747.78
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

67 Chapter 12

Line 16. Refunds of 

Contributions

Itemize refunds of contributions 

made by the committee on a 

Schedule A regardless of their 

amount. Enter the total on Line 

16. See also page 72.

Line 17. Other Federal 

Receipts

This category includes interest 

and dividends earned on investments. Itemize these receipts on 

a Schedule A once the committee 

receives more than $200 from 

the same source during a calendar 

year. Enter the total under this 

category on Line 17. See page 15 

for more information on interest 

and dividends.

Line 18. Transfers from 

Nonfederal Account 

and Levin Funds

If the committee maintains a 

nonfederal account for state 

and local election activities, or a 

Levin account for federal election 

activity (FEA), the committee (i.e., 

the federal or allocation account) 

may accept funds transferred by 

the nonfederal or Levin account 

in order to pay its share of certain 

allocable expenses. 106.7(f)(1) 

and 300.33(d)(1). Report the 

total amount transferred from the 

nonfederal or Levin account during the period (i.e., the total from 

Schedule H3 or H5) on Line 18.

Other rules concerning these 

transfers are explained in Chapters 

13 and 14.

TRANSFERS-IN

FE3AN037.PDF

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Aggregate Year-to-Date

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C

C , , .

C , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

, , .

SCHEDULE A (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED RECEIPTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SUBTOTAL of Receipts This Page (optional) ............................................................................

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

A.

FEC Schedule A (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

B.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

C.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF U (check only one) se separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page 11a 11b 11c 12

13 14 15 16 17

X

1 1

National Freedom Party

Local Freedom Party

111 Leviathan Ave.

Washington DC 00000

08 20 2004

00300000

00300001

1,987.30

5,436.14

169.55

169.55

111 Grassroots St. 08 24 2004

Flatpoint ST 00000

Freedom Party State Committee

Itemize all transfers from other party committees and organizations, 

regardless of amount. Transfers from a committee’s nonfederal account, however, are itemized on Line 18.

OFFSETS TO OPERATING EXPENDITURES

FE3AN037.PDF

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Aggregate Year-to-Date

, , .

C

C , , .

C , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

, , .

SCHEDULE A (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED RECEIPTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SUBTOTAL of Receipts This Page (optional) ............................................................................

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

A.

FEC Schedule A (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

B.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

C.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF U (check only one) se separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page 11a 11b 11c 12

13 14 X 15 16 17

1 1

07 30 2004

Noblet Mailing Services

2201 Wayward Rd.

250.00

250.00

Refund of overcharge

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

Itemize offsets to operating expenditures when they aggregate over 

$200 per calendar year from the same source.

Line 15. Off sets to Operating 

Expenditures

Refunds, rebates and returns of deposits are considered offsets to operating expenditures. Itemize 

offsets on a Schedule A once the committee 

receives more than $200 from the same source 

during a calendar year (see example). Enter the 

total on Line 15.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

68 Chapter 12

4. Itemized Disbursements

When to Itemize Disbursements

Regardless of Amount

The disbursements listed below must be itemized, 

regardless of amount, on Schedule B (or indicated 

schedule):

• Shared federal/nonfederal operating 

expenditures (itemized on Schedule H4—see 

Chapter 10);

• Expenditures for allocated FEA;1

• Contributions to candidates and political 

committees;

• Coordinated party expenditures (itemized on 

Schedule F);

• Loan repayments;

• Loans made by the committee; and

• Transfers to other party committees and party 

organizations.

Note that refunds of contributions (Line 26 of 

the Detailed Summary Page) must be itemized on 

Schedule B only if the incoming contribution had 

to be itemized on Schedule A, as explained on 

page 72.

Other Disbursements: $200 Threshold

A disbursement that does not fall under one of 

the categories listed above (such as a federal 

operating expenditure or an independent expenditure) must be itemized if it exceeds $200 when 

aggregated with other disbursements made to the 

same payee during the calendar year. (Please note 

that independent expenditures are itemized on 

Schedule E; see page 76.)

How to Itemize Disbursements

Separate Categories of Disbursements

Before beginning to itemize the committee’s 

disbursements, separate them into the different 

categories listed on the Detailed Summary Page 

(“Operating Expenditures,” “Contributions to 

Federal Candidates,” etc.; an illustration of a completed Detailed Summary Page appears on page 

70). The disbursements in each category must be 

itemized on a separate Schedule B designated for 

that category.

Indicate the type of disbursement itemized on 

a particular Schedule B by entering the corresponding line number from the Detailed Summary 

Page in the upper right corner of the schedule. 

The appropriate category of disbursement may 

also be written at the top of each page.

Some categories may require several pages. The 

total for each category should be entered on the 

bottom line of the last page for that category.

Itemized Information

Itemized disbursement information includes:

• Name of payee;

• Address of payee;

• Purpose of disbursement (a brief but specifi c 

description of why the disbursement was 

made—see Schedule B instructions and 

104.3(b)(3)(i)(B));

• Date of payment; and

• Amount. 104.3(b)(3); 104.9.

1 Expenditures in excess of $200 for FEA which are made 

entirely with federal funds must be itemized on a Schedule 

B. The total is reported on Line 30(b) of the Detailed Summary Page.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

69 Chapter 12

Contributions to Candidates: 

Additional Information

Further information is required 

when itemizing a contribution to a 

candidate committee on Schedule 

B. Include the candidate’s name 

and the offi ce sought (including the state and, if applicable, 

Congressional district). When 

itemizing a contribution or loan 

to a candidate committee, specify 

the election for which the payment 

was made by checking the appropriate category in the election 

designation box. 104.3(b)(3)(v). 

See illustration.

Redesignations of 

Contributions

Use memo entries to show any 

redesignations of contributions 

made (explained on page 30).

If a contribution to a candidate is redesignated for a different election after the close of 

books, show the redesignation 

on the next report and indicate 

the report on which the original 

contribution was itemized.

In this illustration, the committee originally made a $10,000 

contribution to a candidate’s 

campaign, intending half of it to 

count toward the general election. The committee itemized the 

contribution in its year-end report. 

Later, the campaign requested that 

the committee redesignate the 

excessive $5,000 for the general 

election campaign. The committee 

itemized the redesignation in its 

April quarterly report.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES

FE3AN037.PDF

SCHEDULE B (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , .

SUBTOTAL of Disbursements This Page (optional) .................................................................. , , .

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

FEC Schedule B (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

A. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

B. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

C. Date of Disbursement

Use separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF

(check only one)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

21b 22 23 24 25 26

27 28a 28b 28c 29 30b

X

1 1

Friends of Guy Blank

111 Gari Street

Contribution

Guy Blank

X

ST 6

X

07 16 2004

2,000.00

011

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

ORIGINAL DESIGNATION

FE3AN037.PDF

SCHEDULE B (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , .

SUBTOTAL of Disbursements This Page (optional) .................................................................. , , .

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

FEC Schedule B (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

A. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

B. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

C. Date of Disbursement

Use separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF

(check only one)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

21b 22 23 24 25 26

27 28a 28b 28c 29 30b

1 1

X

Freedom Party State Committee

Blakley for a Better Tomorrow Committee

111 Pinchpenny Ave.

City ST 00000

12 30 2003

Contribution

Christopher Blakley

011

X

ST 4

X

10,000.00

REDESIGNATION, APRIL QUARTERLY REPORT

SCHEDULE B (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

A. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

B. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

C. Date of Disbursement

Use separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF

(check only one)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

21b 22 23 24 25 26

27 28a 28b 28c 29 30b

Blakley for A Better Tomorrow Committee

111 Pinchpenny Ave.

12 30 2003

Contribution 011

10,000.00 Christopher Blakley

X X

ST 4

MEMO -As originally reported

in 2003 Year-End Report.

111 Pinchpenny Ave.

Contribution 011

Christopher Blakley

X X

ST 4

5,000.00

02 28 2004

2004

MEMO - Redesignation.

Blakley for A Better Tomorrow Committee

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

City ST 00000

X

1 1

2004
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

70 Chapter 12

5. Reporting 

Disbursements: 

The Detailed 

Summary Page

Line-by-line instructions for fi lling 

out the Disbursements portion of 

the Detailed Summary Page are 

given below. See previous page 

for information on how to itemize 

disbursements on Schedule B.

More information on reporting loans, debts and independent 

expenditures appears later in this 

chapter.

Line 21. Operating 

Expenditures

Line 21a: Allocated Federal/

Nonfederal Activity

Report the total federal and nonfederal portions of shared operating expenditures separately on 

Lines 21a(i) and (ii). The numbers 

are taken from the bottom of 

Schedule H4. Line 21a is not used 

if the committee maintains only 

one account for federal and nonfederal activities 

or if the committee is not involved in nonfederal 

election activities.

Line 21b: Other Federal Operating 

Expenditures

Report all operating expenditures other than 

shared operating expenditures on Line 21b.

Itemize them on a Schedule B for Line 21b 

once payments to any payee exceed $200 in a 

calendar year.

Line 21c: Total Operating Expenditures

Report the total of Lines 21a and 21b on Line 

21c.

Line 22. Transfers-Out

Itemize transfers to party committees and 

party organizations, regardless of amount, on a 

Schedule B for Line 22. Enter the total from that 

schedule on the Detailed Summary Page.

THE DETAILED SUMMARY PAGE

FE3AN037.PDF

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21. Operating Expenditures:

(a) Allocated Federal/Non-Federal

Activity (from Schedule H4)

(i) Federal Share .............................

(ii) Non-Federal Share .....................

(b) Other Federal Operating

Expenditures .......................................

(c) Total Operating Expenditures

(add 21(a)(i), (a)(ii), and (b)) .............

22. Transfers to Affiliated/Other Party

Committees ................................................

23. Contributions to Federal Candidates/Committees and Other Political Committees ................

24. Independent Expenditures

(use Schedule E) .......................................

25. Coordinated Party Expenditures (2 U.S.C. §441a(d)) (use Schedule F) .......................................

26. Loan Repayments Made ...........................

27. Loans Made ...............................................

28. Refunds of Contributions To: (a) Individuals/Persons Other Than Political Committees .................

(b) Political Party Committees .................

(c) Other Political Committees

(such as PACs) ..................................

(d) Total Contribution Refunds

(add Lines 28(a), (b), and (c)) ..........

29. Other Disbursements .................................

30. Federal Election Activity (2 U.S.C. §431(20))

(a) Allocated Federal Election Activity

(from Schedule H6)

(i) Federal Share ................................

(ii) "Levin" Share ................................

(b) Federal Election Activity Paid Entirely

With Federal Funds .......................

(c) Total Federal Election Activity (add

Lines 30(a)(i), 30(a)(ii) and 30(b)) ...

31. Total Disbursements (add Lines 21(c), 22,

23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28(d), 29 and 30(c))..

32. Total Federal Disbursements

(subtract Line 21(a)(ii) and Line 30(a)(ii)

from Line 31) .............................................

COLUMN B

Calendar Year-to-Date

COLUMN A

Total This Period II. Disbursements

DETAILED SUMMARY PAGE

of Disbursements FEC Form 3X (Rev. 02/2003 ) Page 4

6,509.72

1,195.00

17,088.04

0.00

24,200.00

2,500.00

18,751.88

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

120.00 120.00

18,751.88

120.00 120.00

500.00 990.00

15,227.33

2,542.91

31,364.54

40,975.00

2,500.00

3.600.00

9,383.32 14,224.30

6,400.00

5,000.00

15,000.00

3.600.00

6,400.00

5,000.00

15,000.00

78,159.92 110,331.42

62,376.60 89,707.12

Line 23. Contributions to Federal 

Candidates and Other Political 

Committees

Itemize all monetary and in-kind contributions 

made to candidate committees and other federal 

political committees, regardless of amount, on a 

Schedule B for Line 23. Report the total from that 

schedule on the Detailed Summary Page. An example of an itemized contribution to a candidate 

is provided on the previous page.

Line 24. Independent 

Expenditures

Disclose independent expenditures on Schedule E 

(see page 76). Enter the Schedule E total of itemized and unitemized independent expenditures on 

Line 24.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

71 Chapter 12

Line 29. Other 

Disbursements

“Other disbursements” include 

donations made by the committee 

to nonfederal candidates and committees. Itemize “other disbursements” on a Schedule B for Line 

29 when they exceed $200 to the 

same payee during a calendar year. 

Enter the total of itemized and 

unitemized other disbursements 

on the Detailed Summary Page. 

Line 30. Federal 

Election Activity

State, district and local party committees making disbursements for 

FEA must enter fi gures on Line 30.

Line 30(a): Allocated Federal Election 

Activity

Report the total federal and Levin portions of 

allocated federal election activity separately on 

Lines 30(a)(i) and (ii). The numbers are taken 

from Schedule H6.

Line 30(b): FEA Paid Entirely with Federal 

Funds

Expenditures of $200 or more for FEA which are 

made entirely with federal funds must be itemized 

on Line 30(b).

Line 30(c): Total Federal Election Activity

Report the total of Lines 30(a) and 30(b) on Line 

30(c).

For further information on FEA, see below and 

in chapter 8. For information on allocating these 

disbursements, see chapter 13.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO NONFEDERAL 

CANDIDATES (OTHER DISBURSEMENTS)

FE3AN037.PDF

SCHEDULE B (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , .

SUBTOTAL of Disbursements This Page (optional) .................................................................. , , .

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

FEC Schedule B (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

A. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

B. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

C. Date of Disbursement

Use separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF

(check only one)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

21b 22 23 24 25 26

27 28a 28b 28c X 29 30b

1 1

Chris Villarreal for Governor

111 Chiefs Street

Nonfederal Contribution 011

10 08 2004

1,000.00 Chris Villarreal

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

Itemize “other disbursements,” such as nonfederal donations, once 

they exceed $200 per payee per calendar year.

Line 25. Coordinated Party 

Expenditures

Disclose coordinated party expenditures on 

Schedule F (see page 75). Enter the Schedule F 

total on Line 25.

Line 26. Loan Repayments

See page 78 for information on how to itemize 

the payments on Schedules B and C. Enter the 

total paid on loans on Line 26.

Line 27. Loans Made

See page 80 for information on how to report 

loans made by the committee on Schedules B 

and C. Enter the total amount loaned during the 

period on Line 27.

Line 28. Refunds of Contributions

Itemize a refund made by the committee only 

if the original contribution was itemized. Other 

rules for reporting contribution refunds made by 

the committee are described on page 72. Enter 

the total amount refunded during the period on 

Line 28.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

72 Chapter 12

6. Contribution 

Refunds Made 

and Received

Refunds Made by the 

Committee

When a committee refunds a contribution to a donor, the committee must include the disbursement 

in the total for the appropriate 

category of refund on the Detailed 

Summary Page (Line 28(a), (b) or 

(c)). If the committee previously 

itemized the incoming contribution on Schedule A, then it must 

itemize the refund on a Schedule 

B for the appropriate line number. 

104.8(d)(4).

(A committee may return a 

contribution to the donor without depositing it, although the 

return must be made within 10 

days of the treasurer’s receipt of 

the contribution. 103.3(a). In this 

case, the committee does not have 

to report either the receipt or the 

return of the contribution.)

Refunds Received by 

the Committee

If a committee receives a refund of a contribution it has made, it must report the refund in one 

of two ways, depending on the circumstances 

described below. 104.8(d)(4).

Original Check Not Deposited

If a check to a candidate committee or other 

political committee is not deposited (e.g., if it is 

returned uncashed or is lost), report the amount 

as a negative entry on a Schedule B for Line 23, 

“Contributions to Federal Candidates and Other 

Political Committees.” (The amount is subtracted 

from the total for Line 23.)

Refunded by Recipient’s Check

If the recipient committee deposits the contribution and then refunds it with its own check, 

itemize the refund, regardless of amount, on a 

Schedule A for Line 16, “Refunds of Contributions.” 

REFUNDED CONTRIBUTION

FE3AN037.PDF

, , .

, , .

, , .

Aggregate Year-to-Date

, , .

C

C , , .

C , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

, , .

SCHEDULE A (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED RECEIPTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SUBTOTAL of Receipts This Page (optional) ............................................................................

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

A.

FEC Schedule A (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

B.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

C.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF U (check only one) se separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page 11a 11b 11c 12

13 14 15 X 16 17

1 1

Garth Gillan for Senate

111 Jasmine Rd. 07 12 2004

X 1,000.00

1,000.00

Refund of contribution itemized

in July Quarterly Report.

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

Unlike returned contributions, contributions that are refunded by a 

check from the recipient are reported as receipts.

RETURNED CONTRIBUTION

FE3AN037.PDF

SCHEDULE B (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , .

SUBTOTAL of Disbursements This Page (optional) .................................................................. , , .

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

FEC Schedule B (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

A. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

B. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

C. Date of Disbursement

Use separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF

(check only one)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

21b 22 23 24 25 26

27 28a 28b 28c 29 30b

X

1 1

Americans for Steve Bagwell

111 Magilla Way

Returned Check

Stephen Bagwell

X

ST 4

X

05 21 2004

011

-2,500.00

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

73 Chapter 12

• If the individual paid with cash 

or a personal check, within 30 days 

from the date the expense was 

incurred.

• If the individual paid with a credit 

card, within 60 days of the closing 

date on the credit card billing 

statement. 116.5(b). 

Reimbursed Within Time Limit 

and in Same Reporting Period

When the committee makes a reimbursement within these time limits, 

the committee reports the advance 

and reimbursement as follows:

• The original advance is not 

reported; and 

• The reimbursement is reported as 

an operating expenditure on Line 

17. AO 1992–1.

Reimbursed Within Time Limit 

but in Later Reporting Period

Note that, if the reimbursement is 

made within the appropriate time 

limit but not within the reporting 

period in which the advance was 

made, the committee must report 

the advance on Schedule D as a 

debt if it exceeds $500. Once the 

reimbursement is actually made, the 

committee reports it as an operating expenditure and itemizes it on 

Schedule B if reimbursements to any 

one person exceed $200 for the election cycle.

Travel Advances Not Reimbursed 

Within 30 or 60 Days 

Not Reimbursed Within Time Limit but Within 

Same Reporting Period

Travel advances that are not reimbursed within the 

appropriate 30 or 60 day time limit (116.5(b)) but 

that are reimbursed within the reporting period in 

which the advance is made are considered contributions and must be reported as follows:

• Report the original advance as a memo entry 

contribution on Schedule A if the total of the 

advance plus any other contributions made by 

the same person within the election cycle, minus 

any reimbursements made in the reporting period, 

exceeds $200; and

7. Reporting Reimbursed 

Advances of Personal 

Funds 

When a volunteer or a committee staff member 

uses his or her personal funds or personal credit 

to pay a vendor for an expense and is later reimbursed by the committee, special reporting rules 

apply.

Travel Expenses Reimbursed 

Within 30 or 60 Days 

No contribution results when the committee 

reimburses a volunteer or staff member for travel 

expenses within the following time periods: 

ADVANCES FROM PERSONAL FUNDS

FE3AN037.PDF

, , .

, , .

, , .

Aggregate Year-to-Date

, , .

C

C , , .

C , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

, , .

SCHEDULE A (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED RECEIPTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SUBTOTAL of Receipts This Page (optional) ............................................................................

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

A.

FEC Schedule A (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

B.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

C.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF U (check only one) se separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page 11a 11b 11c 12

13 14 15 16 17

1 1

X

Hansen, Jennifer

111 Gettysburg St. 09 17 2004

379.83

MEMO - Airfare to be

Reimbursed

379.83

Freedom Party Regional Director

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

Unreimbursed advances that aggregate to over $200 appear as memo 

entries on Schedule A for Line 11(a)(i).

FE3AN037.PDF

SCHEDULE B (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , .

SUBTOTAL of Disbursements This Page (optional) .................................................................. , , .

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

FEC Schedule B (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

A. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

B. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

C. Date of Disbursement

Use separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF

(check only one)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

21b 22 23 24 25 26

27 28a 28b 28c 29 30b

1 1 X

Hansen, Jennifer

111 Gettysburg St.

09 17 2004

379.83

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

Reimbursement for airfare 002

See Schedule A, October

Quarterly Report

The reimbursement is reported as an operating expenditure on 

Schedule B, with a cross reference to the corresponding Schedule A.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

74 Chapter 12

• Report the reimbursement as an operating 

expenditure and, if reimbursements to that 

person exceed $200 in the election cycle, 

itemize it on Schedule B (with a cross-reference 

to the memo entry on Schedule A for the 

advance—if the advance was itemized).

Not Reimbursed Within Time Limit and Not 

Within Same Reporting Period

Travel advances that are not reimbursed 

within the appropriate 30 or 60 day time limit 

(116.5(b)) and that are not reimbursed within the 

reporting period in which the advance was made 

must be reported as follows:

• Report the original advance as a memo entry 

contribution on Schedule A if the total of the 

advance plus any other contributions made by 

the same person within the election cycle, minus 

any reimbursements made in the reporting 

period, exceeds $200;

• Report the amount of the advance outstanding 

at the end of the reporting period as a debt 

on Schedule D if it exceeds $500 or has been 

outstanding for more than 60 days; and

• Report the reimbursement as an operating 

expenditure and, if reimbursements to that 

person exceed $200 in the election cycle, 

itemize it on Schedule B (with a cross-reference 

to the memo entry on Schedule A for the 

advance—if the advance was itemized).

Nontravel Advances Made 

and Reimbursed Within Same 

Reporting Period

Nontravel advances that are made and reimbursed 

within the same reporting period are considered 

contributions and must be reported as follows:

• Do not report the original advance unless, at 

the end of the reporting period, the amount 

of previous contributions in the election cycle 

from the person making the advance plus the 

amount of the advance minus the amount of 

the reimbursement is greater than $200 (i.e., 

previous contributions + the advance - the 

reimbursement > $200). In that case, report 

the advance as a memo entry contribution on 

Schedule A; and

• Report the reimbursement as an operating 

expenditure and, if reimbursements to that 

person exceed $200 in the election cycle, 

itemize it on Schedule B (with a cross-reference 

to the memo entry on Schedule A for the 

advance—if the advance was itemized). AO 

1992-1.

Nontravel Advances Made 

and Reimbursed in Diff erent 

Reporting Periods

Nontravel advances that are to be reimbursed 

in a later reporting period must be reported as 

follows:

• Do not report the original advance unless, at 

the end of the reporting period, the amount 

of previous contributions in the election cycle 

from the person making the advance plus the 

amount of the advance minus the amount of 

the reimbursement is greater than $200 (i.e. 

previous contributions + the advance - the 

reimbursement > $200). In that case, report 

the advance as a memo entry contribution on 

Schedule A;

• Report the amount of the advance outstanding 

at the end of the reporting period as a debt 

on Schedule D if it exceeds $500 or has 

been outstanding for more than 60 days (see 

example at left); and

• Report the reimbursement, once made, as an 

operating expenditure and, if reimbursements to 

that person exceed $200 in the election cycle, 

itemize it on Schedule B (with a cross-reference 

to the memo entry on Schedule A for the 

advance—if the advance was itemized). See AO 

1992-1.

Special Rule for Reporting 

Reimbursements to Staff (for 

Travel and Subsistence Advances)

If the total amount reimbursed to the staff 

member is $500 or less, the committee should 

report the staff member as the payee. If the total 

amount exceeds $500 and payments to any one 

vendor used for the expenses total over $200 

for the election cycle, additional information is 

required to achieve full disclosure. In this instance 

the committee must:

• Report the staff member as payee; and 

• Report the payments aggregating over $200 to 

any one vendor as memo entries on Schedule B. 

See AO 1996-20, footnote 3. (See example.)
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

75 Chapter 12

9. Coordinated 

Party Expenditures

Schedule F

Itemize all coordinated party 

expenditures on Schedule F. (See 

example.) Enter the Schedule F 

total on Line 25 of the Detailed 

Summary Page.

Expenditures by 

Designated Agents

A state party committee that has 

designated other party committees 

to make coordinated party expenditures must ensure that the designated party 

groups do not exceed the expenditure limits for 

the candidates supported (see page 16). To this 

end, the FEC recommends the reporting method 

outlined below, although a committee may use its 

own method of controlling and reporting coordinated party expenditures made by designated 

agents if the method receives advance approval 

from the FEC. 109.33(b).

Under the recommended method, each designated party committee itemizes its coordinated 

party expenditures on Schedule F. The committee 

fi les Schedule F with its own report but also forwards a copy to the designating party committee.

The designating committee, in addition to fi ling 

its own Schedule F, attaches those forwarded by 

designated agents as memo entries. (The memo 

entry expenditures are not included in the Line 

25 total on the Detailed Summary Page.)

24 Hour Reporting

Coordinated party expenditure limits are increased for House and Senate candidates when 

their opponent’s personal spending exceeds their 

own by certain threshold amounts. Each time 

a national or state political party committees 

makes coordinated expenditures in excess of the 

normal limits, it must notify the Commission (via 

fax or e-mail) and the candidate on whose behalf 

the expenditure is made within 24 hours, using 

Schedule F. Be sure to include the expenditure in 

the next regularly scheduled FEC report. 11 CFR 

§400.30(c)(2).

COORDINATED PARTY EXPENDITURE

FE3AN037.PDF

SCHEDULE F (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED COORDINATED PARTY EXPENDITURES MADE BY

POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEES OR DESIGNATED AGENT(S)

ON BEHALF OF CANDIDATES FOR FEDERAL OFFICE

(2 U.S.C. §441a(d)) FOR LINE 25 OF FORM 3X

PAGE OF

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , .

SUBTOTAL of Expenditures This Page (optional) ..................................................................... , , .

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

FEC Schedule F (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) of Each Payee

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount

, , . Aggregate General Election

Expenditure for this Candidate

Date

, , .

Name of Federal Candidate Supported Office Sought: House

Senate

Presidential

(To be used only by Political Committees in the General Election)

Has your committee been designated to make

coordinated expenditures by a political party committee?

YES NO

If YES, name the designating committee:

Full Name of Subordinate Committee

Mailing Address

City State ZIP Code

Purpose of Expenditure

State:

District:

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) of Each Payee

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Aggregate General Election

Expenditure for this Candidate , , .

Name of Federal Candidate Supported Office Sought: House

Senate

Presidential

Purpose of Expenditure

State:

District:

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) of Each Payee

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Aggregate General Election

Expenditure for this Candidate , , .

Name of Federal Candidate Supported Office Sought: House

Senate

Presidential

Purpose of Expenditure

State:

District:

Category/

Type

Category/

Type

Category/

Type

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

Amount

, , .

Date

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

Amount

, , .

Date

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

Limit Raised Due to Opponentʼs

Spending (2 U.S.C. §441a(i)/441a–1)

Limit Raised Due to Opponentʼs

Spending (2 U.S.C. §441a(i)/441a–1)

Limit Raised Due to Opponentʼs

Spending (2 U.S.C. §441a(i)/441a–1)

Check if

24-hour notice

1 1

X

City Press

111 Industrial Ave.

Newspaper Ad

07 30 2004

Guy Blank X ST

6 10,000.00

15,050.00

004

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

8. Investments

Principal

When the committee invests funds in a savings account, money market fund, certifi cate of deposit 

or similar type of account, the principal deposited 

must be included in the committee’s cash-onhand total. (Investment properties, such as shares 

of stock, are not included in cash on hand.) The 

committee does not report this type of investment as a disbursement because the money is still 

a committee asset. 104.3(a)(1); AO 1990-2.

Investment Income

Report investment income received or lost during the reporting period in the “Other Receipts” 

category (Line 17) of the Detailed Summary 

Page. If investment income from one source 

aggregates over $200 during a calendar year, 

itemize the interest on a Schedule A for Line 17. 

104.3(a)(4)(vi). Losses are indicated by negative 

entries. (See “Interest and Dividends,” page 15.)

Income Tax

Include income taxes paid by the committee as 

other disbursements on Line 21. Itemize income 

tax payments on Schedule B only if they aggregate over $200 per year to the same payee—i.e., 

the local, state or federal government.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

76 Chapter 12

Check the box at the top of 

Schedule F to indicate that it is a 

24 hour notice. Also, when disclosing expenditures made under 

modifi ed limits, check the box on 

Schedule F to indicate this.

10. Independent 

Expenditures

Schedule E

Itemize any independent expenditure which, by itself or when 

added to other independent expenditures made 

to the same payee during the same calendar year, 

exceeds $200. The date that a communication 

is publicly disseminated serves as the date that 

a committee must use to determine whether the 

total amount of independent expenditures has, in 

the aggregate, reached or exceeded the threshold 

reporting amount of $200.

Independent expenditures are itemized on 

Schedule E. A subtotal for itemized independent 

expenditures is entered on Line (a). Independent 

expenditures made prior to payment should be 

disclosed as memo entries on Schedule E and on 

Schedule D as a reportable debt under 104.11.

Independent expenditures of $200 or less do 

not need to be itemized, though the committee 

must report the subtotal of those expenditures 

on Line (b). 104.3(b)(3)(vii)(C) and 104.4(a).

Enter the total of itemized and unitemized 

independent expenditures on Line (c) of Schedule 

E and on Line 24 of the Detailed Summary Page.

48-Hour Independent 

Expenditure Notices

Political committees and other persons who make 

independent expenditures at any time during a 

calendar year—up to and including the 20th day 

before an election—must disclose this activity 

within 48 hours each time that the expenditures 

aggregate $10,000 or more. This reporting 

requirement is in addition to the requirement to 

fi le 24-hour notices of independent expenditures 

each time that disbursements for independent 

expenditures aggregate at or above $1,000 during the last 20 days—up to 24-hours—before 

an election. 2 U.S.C. §§434(b), (d) and (g). For 

information on such last-minute independent 

expenditure reports, see below.

Note: expenditures that have already been 

disclosed in a previous report do not have to be 

included on the 48-hour notice.

Independent expenditures 

aggregating less than $10,000

Committees must report on Schedule E independent expenditures that aggregate less than 

$10,000 with respect to a given election during 

the calendar year that are made up to and including the 20th day before an election. The report 

must be fi led no later than the fi ling date of the 

committee’s next regularly-scheduled report. 11 

CFR 104.4(a) and (b)(1).

Independent expenditures 

aggregating $10,000 and above

Once an individual’s or committee’s independent 

expenditures reach or exceed $10,000 in the aggregate at any time up to and including the 20th

day before an election, they must be reported 

within 48 hours of the date that the expenditure 

is publicly distributed. All 48-hour reports must 

be fi led with and received by the Commission at by the Commission at 

the end of the second day after the independent 

expenditure is publicly distributed. Electronic fi lers must fi le these reports electronically. Paper fi lers may fi le by fax or email. Additionally, electronic fi lers and paper fi lers may fi le 48-hour reports 

using the FEC web site’s online program.11 CFR 

104.4(b)(2), 109.10(c) and 100.19(d)(3).

INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE

FE3AN037.PDF FEC Schedule E (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Calendar Year-To-Date Per Election

for Office Sought

Calendar Year-To-Date Per Election

for Office Sought

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

Check if 24-hour notice 48-hour notice

SCHEDULE E (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES

FOR LINE 24 OF FORM 3X

PAGE OF

C

FEC IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

(a) SUBTOTAL of Itemized Independent Expenditures ............................................................

(b) SUBTOTAL of Unitemized Independent Expenditures .......................................................

(c) TOTAL Independent Expenditures .......................................................................................

Under penalty of perjury I certify that the independent expenditures reported herein were not made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with,

or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or authorized committee or agent of either, or (if the reporting entity is not a political party

committee) any political party committee or its agent.

Date

Signature

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

Date

Amount

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) of Payee

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Expenditure

Name of Federal Candidate Supported or Opposed by Expenditure:

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , . Disbursement For: Primary General

Other (specify)

Category/

Type

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

Check One: Support Oppose

State:

District:

, , .

Date

Amount

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) of Payee

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Expenditure

Name of Federal Candidate Supported or Opposed by Expenditure:

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , . Disbursement For: Primary General

Other (specify)

Category/

Type

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

Check One: Support Oppose

State:

District:

1 1

00300002

Morning News

111 First Ave.

Newspaper Ad 004

08 22 2004

2,500.00

Bob Voteworthy

X ST

4

X

X 3,700.00

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

77 Chapter 12

Aggregating independent 

expenditures for reporting 

purposes

Independent expenditures are aggregated toward 

the various reporting thresholds on a per-election 

and per-offi ce sought basis within the calendar 

year. Consider, as examples, the following scenarios, all of which occur outside of the 20-day 

window before an election when 24-hour notices 

are required: 

• If a committee makes $5,000 in independent 

expenditures with respect to a Senate candidate, 

and $5,000 in independent expenditures 

with respect to a House candidate, then the 

committee is not required to fi le 48-hour 

reports, but must disclose this activity on its 

next regularly-scheduled report.

• If the committee makes $5,000 in independent 

expenditures with respect to a clearly-identifi ed 

candidate in the primary, and an additional 

$5,000 in independent expenditures with 

respect to the same candidate in the general, 

then again no 48-hour notice is required 

and the expenditures are disclosed on the 

committee’s next report.

• If the committee makes $6,000 in independent 

expenditures supporting a Senate candidate 

in the primary election and $4,000 opposing 

that Senate candidate’s opponent in the same 

election, then the committee must fi le a 48-

hour report.

The date that a communication is publicly disseminated serves as the date that a committee 

must use to determine whether the total amount 

of independent expenditures has, in the aggregate, reached or exceeded the threshold reporting amounts of $10,000. Independent expenditures publicly disseminated prior to payment 

should be disclosed as memo entries on Schedule 

E and on Schedule D as a reportable debt under 

104.11. A 48-hour notice is required for each 

additional $10,000 in aggregate expenditures. 

The calculation of the aggregate amount of 

the independent expenditures must include both 

disbursements for independent expenditures and 

all contracts obliging funds for disbursements 

of independent expenditures. 11 CFR 104.4(f). 

Expenditures that have already been disclosed in 

a previous report do not have to be included on 

the 48-hour notice. 

Last-Minute Independent 

Expenditure Reports (24 Hour 

Notices)

Any independent expenditures aggregating 

$1,000 or more and made after the 20th day 

but more than 24 hours before the day of an 

election must be reported and the report must 

be received within 24 hours after the expenditure 

is made. A 24-hour notice is required for each 

additional $1,000 that aggregates. The 24-hour 

report must be fi led on a Schedule E. Twenty-four 

hour reports must be fi led with the appropriate federal and state fi ling offi ces. 104.4(c) and 

104.5(g). The date that a communication is 

publicly disseminated serves as the date that a 

committee must use to determine whether the 

total amount of independent expenditures has, in 

the aggregate, reached or exceeded the threshold 

reporting amount of $1,000.

The committee must report a last-minute 

expenditure a second time on a Schedule E fi led 

with its next regular report. 104.4(a).

Electronic fi lers must fi le these reports electronically, and paper fi lers may fi le by fax or email. 

Additionally, electronic fi lers and paper fi lers may 

fi le 24-hour reports using the FEC web site’s online program. 11 CFR 104.4(c) and 109.10(d).

Certifi cation

All 24 and 48-hour reports must contain, among 

other things, a verifi cation under penalty of 

perjury as to whether the expenditure was made 

in cooperation, consultation or concert with a 

candidate, a candidate’s committee, a political 

party committee or an agent of any of these. 11 

CFR 104.4(d)(1) and 109.10(e)(1)(v).

For reports fi led on paper, the treasurer must 

sign the Schedule E. For reports fi led by email, 

the treasurer should type his or her name on the 

Schedule E following the certifi cation.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

78 Chapter 12

11. Reporting 

Loans

Continuously itemize all 

loans received and made by 

the committee until they are 

repaid. All repayments made or 

received on a loan must also 

be itemized. 104.3(a)(4)(iv); 

104.3(b)(3)(iii) and (vi); 

104.3(d); 104.11. Procedures 

for reporting loans and loan 

repayments are explained below.

Reminder: Loans are considered contributions to the extent 

of the outstanding balance of 

the loan. 100.52(b)(2). Loans 

from banks, however, are not 

considered contributions if 

made in the ordinary course of 

business. Endorsements and 

guarantees of bank loans, however, do count as contributions. 

100.52(b)(3) and 100.82(c).

Loans Received by the 

Committee

Schedule A: Initial Receipt 

of Loan

Itemize the receipt of a loan, 

regardless of amount, on a 

separate Schedule A for Line 13 

(“Loans Received”).

Schedule B: Interest and 

Principal Payments

Report the interest paid on a 

loan as an operating expenditure, itemizing the payment on 

a Schedule B for Line 21(b) 

(“Operating Expenditures”) 

once interest payments to the 

payee aggregate over $200 in 

a calendar year. 100.111(b) and 

104.3(b)(3)(i).

Payments to reduce the principal must be itemized, regardless of amount, on a separate 

Schedule B for Line 26 (“Loan 

Repayments Made”). 104.3(b)(3)(iii).

INITIAL RECEIPT OF LOAN

FE3AN037.PDF

, , .

, , .

, , .

Aggregate Year-to-Date

, , .

C

C , , .

C , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

, , .

SCHEDULE A (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED RECEIPTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SUBTOTAL of Receipts This Page (optional) ............................................................................

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

A.

FEC Schedule A (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

B.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

C.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF U (check only one) se separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page 11a 11b 11c 12

X 13 14 15 16 17

1 1

Second National Bank

111 Feduciary St. 07 14 2004

5,000.00

5,000.00

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

FE3AN037.PDF

SCHEDULE B (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , .

SUBTOTAL of Disbursements This Page (optional) .................................................................. , , .

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

FEC Schedule B (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

A. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

B. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

C. Date of Disbursement

Use separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF

(check only one)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

21b 22 23 24 25 26

27 28a 28b 28c 29 30b

X

1 1

Second National Bank

111 Feduciary St.

08 22 2004

Loan Repayment 009

2,000.00

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

LOAN PAYMENT

CONTINUOUS REPORTING OF LOAN

Each reporting period, a committee uses Schedule C to report both the 

original loan and payments made to repay the principal on the loan. 

Loans must be continually reported on Schedule C until repaid.

SCHEDULE C (FEC Form 3X)

LOANS Use separate schedule(s) PAGE OF

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SUBTOTALS This Period This Page (optional) ................................................................

Name of Employer

Occupation

List All Endorsers or Guarantors (if any) to Loan Source

, , .

, , . , , . , , .

Original Amount of Loan Cumulative Payment To Date Balance Outstanding at Close of This Period

Date Incurred Date Due Interest Rate Secured:

. % (apr) Yes No

Election:

Primary

General

Other (specify)

LOAN SOURCE Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State ZIP Code

1. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State ZIP Code , , . Amount

Guaranteed

Outstanding:

Name of Employer

Occupation

2. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State ZIP Code , , . Amount

Guaranteed

Outstanding:

Name of Employer

Occupation

3. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State ZIP Code , , . Amount

Guaranteed

Outstanding:

Name of Employer

Occupation

4. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State ZIP Code , , . Amount

Guaranteed

Outstanding:

TERMS

FOR LINE 13 OF FORM 3X

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

1 1

Second National Bank

111 Feduciary St.

5,000.00 2,000.00 3,000.00

07 14 2004 07 14 2006 12.00 X

Rockefeller, Nigel Rockefeller Industries

10500 Solid Ct.

Executive Vice-President

3,000.00

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

City ST 00000
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

79 Chapter 12

Schedule C: Continuous 

Reporting

In addition, report both the original loan and payments made to 

repay the loan on Schedule C each 

reporting period until the loan is 

repaid. 104.3(d) and 104.11. Instructions on the back of Schedule 

C explain what information must be 

disclosed. Use separate Schedule C 

forms to itemize loans received and 

loans made.

The Schedule C balance of the 

total amount owed on loans is 

entered on Line 10 of the Summary 

Page (“Debts and Obligations 

Owed by the Committee”) or, if the 

committee has other debts, the 

balance is carried over to 

Schedule D.

Schedule C-1: Additional 

Information for Bank Loans

A committee that obtains a loan 

from a bank must also fi le Schedule 

C-1 with the fi rst report due after 

a new loan or line of credit has 

been established. 104.3(d)(1). A 

new Schedule C-1 must also be 

fi led with the next report if the 

terms of the loan or line of credit 

are restructured.

Additionally, in the case of a 

committee that has obtained a line 

of credit, a new Schedule C-1 must 

be fi led with the next report whenever the committee draws on the line of credit. 

104.3(d)(1) and (3).

Line-by-line instructions for fi lling out the 

schedule appear on the back of Schedule C-1. 

The committee treasurer or designated assistant treasurer must sign the schedule on Line 

G and attach a copy of the loan agreement. 

104.3(d)(2).

Finally, an authorized representative of the 

lending institution must sign the statement on 

Line I.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON BANK LOANS 

AND LINES OF CREDIT

FE3AN037.PDF

C

, , .

, , . , , .

, , .

, , .

. %

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

E. Are any future contributions or future receipts of interest income, pledged as

collateral for the loan? No Yes If yes, specify:

D. Are any of the following pledged as collateral for the loan: real estate, personal

property, goods, negotiable instruments, certificates of deposit, chattel papers,

stocks, accounts receivable, cash on deposit, or other similar traditional collateral?

No Yes If yes, specify:

SCHEDULE C–1 (FEC Form 3X)

LOANS AND LINES OF CREDIT FROM LENDING INSTITUTIONS

Federal Election Commission, Washington, D.C. 20463

Supplementary for

Information found on

Page of Schedule C

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full) FEC IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

LENDING INSTITUTION (LENDER)

Full Name

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Loan

FEC Schedule C-1 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Interest Rate (APR)

A. Has loan been restructured? No Yes If yes, date originally incurred

B. If line of credit, Total

Outstanding

Amount of this Draw: Balance:

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

Typed Name

Signature Title

DATE

H. Attach a signed copy of the loan agreement.

I. TO BE SIGNED BY THE LENDING INSTITUTION:

I. To the best of this institutionʼs knowledge, the terms of the loan and other information regarding the extension of the loan

are accurate as stated above.

II. The loan was made on terms and conditions (including interest rate) no more favorable at the time than those imposed for

similar extensions of credit to other borrowers of comparable credit worthiness.

III. This institution is aware of the requirement that a loan must be made on a basis which assures repayment, and has

complied with the requirements set forth at 11 CFR 100.82 and 100.142 in making this loan.

G. COMMITTEE TREASURER

Typed Name

Signature

F. If neither of the types of collateral described above was pledged for this loan, or if the amount pledged does not equal or exceed

the loan amount, state the basis upon which this loan was made and the basis on which it assures repayment.

C. Are other parties secondarily liable for the debt incurred?

No Yes (Endorsers and guarantors must be reported on Schedule C.)

Date Incurred or Established

Date Due

DATE

Date account established:

Location of account:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

A depository account must be established pursuant

to 11 CFR 100.82(e)(2) and 100.142(e)(2).

What is the value of this collateral?

Does the lender have a perfected security

interest in it? No Yes

What is the estimated value?

1

00300002

Second National bank 5,000.00 12.00

111 Feduciary St. 07 14 2004

07 22 2006

X

X Cash on deposit

5000.00

X

X

John Responsible 07 14 2004

Mortimer Pennypacker

Asst. Vice-President 07 14 2004

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

John p

e Mortimer yp

Schedule C-1 must be fi led with the fi rst report after the committee 

obtains a bank loan or line of credit. Schedule C-1 must again be fi led 

if the terms of loan or line of credit are restructured.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

80 Chapter 12

Schedule D: Debt and 

Obligations Excluding Loans

A committee that fails to make 

interest payments on a loan must 

report the accumulated unpaid 

interest as a debt on Schedule D 

(see page 45). See MUR 3418. 

Loans Made by the 

Committee

Schedule B: Outgoing Loan

When making a loan to another 

organization, itemize the disbursement, regardless of amount, on a Schedule B for 

Line 27 (“Loans Made”). 104.3(b)(3)(vi).

Schedule A: Interest and Principal Payments 

Received

Report interest received on a loan on a Schedule 

A for Line 17 (“Other Receipts”) if the payments 

aggregate over $200 from the same source during the calendar year.

Itemize payments received that reduce the principal owed on a separate Schedule A for Line 14 

(“Loan Repayments Received”).

Schedule C: Continuous Reporting

The original amount loaned and repayments 

received on it must be itemized on Schedule C 

each reporting period until the loan is repaid in 

full. Schedule C instructions (see back of schedule) explain what information must be disclosed. 

(Note that separate Schedule C forms are used 

to itemize loans received and loans made. Filers 

should label the forms accordingly.)

The Schedule C balance of the total outstanding loans owed to a committee is entered on Line 

9 of the Summary Page (“Debts and Obligations 

Owed to the Committee”) unless other types of 

debts are owed to the committee. In that case, 

the Schedule C total is carried over to 

Schedule D.

DEBTS OWED BY THE COMMITTEE

FE3AN037.PDF

SCHEDULE D (FEC Form 3X)

DEBTS AND OBLIGATIONS

Excluding Loans

(Use separate

schedule(s)

for each

numbered line)

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , .

, , .

1) SUBTOTALS This Period This Page (optional) ...................................................................

2) TOTALS This Period (last page this line number only) ......................................................

3) TOTAL OUTSTANDING LOANS from Schedule C (last page only) .................................

4) ADD 2) and 3) and carry forward to appropriate line of Summary Page (last page only)

A. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) of Debtor or Creditor

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Payment This Period

, , .

FEC Schedule D (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Outstanding Balance at Close of This Period

, , .

, , .

, , .

Outstanding Balance Beginning This Period

, , . Amount Incurred This Period

, , .

Nature of Debt (Purpose):

B. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) of Debtor or Creditor

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Payment This Period

, , .

Outstanding Balance at Close of This Period

, , .

Outstanding Balance Beginning This Period

, , . Amount Incurred This Period

, , .

Nature of Debt (Purpose):

C. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) of Debtor or Creditor

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Payment This Period

, , .

Outstanding Balance at Close of This Period

, , .

Outstanding Balance Beginning This Period

, , . Amount Incurred This Period

, , .

Nature of Debt (Purpose):

PAGE OF

FOR LINE NUMBER:

(check only one) 9

X 10

1 1

1,125.00

0.00 562.79 562.21

Martin Black Consulting

111 Evergreen Lane

Radio advertisement for

Guy Blank for Congress

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

12. Reporting Debts Other 

Than Loans

Unpaid bills and written contracts or agreements 

to make expenditures expenditures are considered debts. are considered debts. 

100.112. Report debts and obligations (other 

than loans) on Schedule D according to the following rules:

• A debt of $500 or less is reportable once it 

has been outstanding 60 days from the date 

incurred (the date of the transaction, not the 

date the bill is received). The debt is disclosed 

on the next regularly scheduled report.

• A debt exceeding $500 must be reported on 

the next report fi led after the debt is incurred. 

104.3(d); 104.11.

Use separate Schedule D forms for debts owed 

by the committee and debts owed to the committee. Label each schedule accordingly.

Regularly recurring administrative expenses, 

like rent and salaries, do not have to be treated 

as debts until payment is due. 104.11(b); see 

116.6(c).

Debts Owed by the Committee

Use Schedule D to report:

• The outstanding amount owed on a debt or 

obligation including any unpaid interest accrued 

on a debt; and

• Payments made to reduce the debt.

Schedule D instructions explain what additional 

information is required.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

81 Chapter 12

Enter the Schedule D total of outstanding 

debts, plus the balance of loans owed by the 

committee (carried over from Schedule C, as explained above) on Line 10 of the Summary Page. 

Note that payments to reduce debts must also 

be reported under the appropriate category of 

disbursement on the Detailed Summary Page (for 

example, Line 21(b) for a payment on a bill for an 

operating expenditure).

Settlement of Debts

Special rules apply to debts that are forgiven or 

settled for less than their full amount. See page 

103 for more information.

Special Debt Reporting Problems

Debts of Unknown Amount

If the exact amount of a debt is not known, report 

the estimated amount of the debt. The committee 

should amend the report once a correct fi gure 

is known or include the correct fi gure in a later 

report. 104.11(b).

Unpayable Debts

If a debt cannot be paid because the creditor 

has gone out of business or cannot be located, 

the committee may write to the FEC to request 

permission to discontinue reporting the debt. 

The letter must demonstrate that the debt is at 

least two years old and that efforts to reach the 

creditor have been made. The committee must 

continue to report the debt until the Commission 

determines that the debt is unpayable. 116.9.

Disputed Debts

A disputed debt is a bona fi de disagreement 

between the creditor and the committee as to the 

existence of a debt or the amount owed by the 

committee. 116.10. Until the creditor and committee resolve the dispute (assuming the creditor did 

provide something of value), the committee must 

disclose:

• The amount the committee admits it owes;

• The amount the creditor claims is owed; and

• Any amounts the committee has paid the 

creditor.

Debts Owed to the Committee

Continuously report a debt owed to a committee on Schedule D if the debt exceeds $500 

or has been outstanding 60 days. 104.3(d) and 

104.11. Payments received on the debt are also 

reported on Schedule D until the debt is retired. 

The payments must also be reported on the appropriate line number of the Detailed Summary 

Page and itemized on Schedule A if necessary.

Enter the Schedule D total of outstanding 

debts owed to a committee, plus the balance of 

outstanding loans carried over from Schedule C, 

on Line 9 of the Summary Page.

13. Levin Funds / Federal 

Election Activity

What must be reported

If a committee has less than $5,000 of aggregate 

receipts and disbursements for FEA in a calendar 

year, it is required only to report receipts and 

disbursements of federal funds for FEA.

If the committee has $5,000 or more of aggregate receipts and disbursements for FEA in 

a calendar year, it must disclose all receipts and 

disbursements for FEA, including Levin funds, on 

Schedules L, H5 and H6. (Schedules H5 and H6 

are discussed in the next chapter.) Note: Once a 

committee crosses this threshold, it must fi le on 

a monthly basis. See “Monthly Reporting” in the 

previous chapter.

Schedule L

State, district and local party committees use 

Schedule L to aggregate receipts and disbursements of Levin funds for the reporting period and 

for the calendar year-to-date.

Schedules L-A and L-B

Committees itemize receipts and disbursements 

of Levin funds of $200 or more on Schedules L-A 

and L-B.

Committees without a separate 

Levin account

If a committee has Levin-eligible funds in its 

nonfederal account, the committee is not required 

to report them as Levin funds until it characterizes them as such. When reporting these funds, 

the date of receipt is the date that the committee 

received them under state law, even though they 

are itemized on Schedule L-A in a later reporting 

period.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

82 Chapter 12

14. The Summary 

Page

Line 1. Name and 

Address

Fill in the committee’s full name 

(including any abbreviations used) 

and mailing address. If the address 

has changed, check the appropriate box. (See page 6, “Name and 

Address of the Committee.”)

Line 2. ID Number

Enter the committee’s FEC identifi cation number on Line 2. If the 

committee is fi ling its fi rst report, 

it may not have yet received an ID 

number; in that case, the committee should leave this space blank.

A committee should include its 

ID number in all reports, statements, notices and other written 

communications with the FEC.

Line 3. Multicandidate 

Status

Check the box on Line 3 if the committee has qualifi ed as a multicandidate committee. Note that a multicandidate committee may 

also have to fi le Form 1M. See page 28 for more 

information.

Line 4. Type of Report

Check the appropriate box under (a) indicating 

the type of disclosure report being fi led (e.g., 

quarterly; see Chapter 11). 

Under (b), indicate whether this is an amendment to an original report, as explained below.

Line 5. Coverage Dates

The period covered by the report begins the day 

after the close of books of the last report fi led by 

the committee. If the report is the fi rst one fi led 

by a committee, then the reporting period begins 

with the date of the committee’s fi rst activity.

Line 6. Cash on Hand

What Is Cash on Hand

Cash on hand includes funds held in checking and 

savings accounts, certifi cates of deposit, petty 

cash funds, traveler’s checks, treasury bills and 

other investments valued at cost. 104.3(a)(1).

First Report

Beginning cash on hand—i.e., money that the 

committee had in its possession at the time of 

registration—is subject to the contribution limits, 

prohibitions and disclosure requirements of federal law. (The committee must exclude any contributions that are not permissible under federal law 

and remove such contributions from its federal 

account.) The committee should itemize contributions and other receipts included in the beginning 

cash-on-hand balance. See “When to Itemize 

Receipts” on page 62. 104.12.

THE SUMMARY PAGE

FE3AN037.PDF

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M M / D D / Y Y Y Y M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

Y Y Y Y

COLUMN B

Calendar Year-to-Date

COLUMN A

This Period

6. (a) Cash on Hand

January 1,

(b) Cash on Hand at

Beginning of Reporting Period ..........

(c) Total Receipts (from Line 19) ............

(d) Subtotal (add Lines 6(b) and

6(c) for Column A and Lines

6(a) and 6(c) for Column B)..............

7. Total Disbursements (from Line 31) .........

8. Cash on Hand at Close of

Reporting Period

(subtract Line 7 from Line 6(d))................

9. Debts and Obligations Owed TO

the Committee (Itemize all on

Schedule C and/or Schedule D) ...............

10. Debts and Obligations Owed BY

the Committee (Itemize all on

Schedule C and/or Schedule D) ...............

For further information contact:

Federal Election Commission

999 E Street, NW

Washington, DC 20463

Toll Free 800-424-9530

Local 202-694-1100

FEC Form 3X (Rev. 02/2003 ) Page 2

SUMMARY PAGE OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS

This committee has qualified as a multicandidate committee. (see FEC FORM 1M)

Report Covering the Period: From: To:

Write or Type Committee Name

Freedom Party State Committee

08 01 2004 08 31 2004

2004 64,683.22

118,894.35

33,473.19

152,367.54

58,116.41

94,251.13

0.00

5,830.82

120,826.58

185,509.80

92,258.67

95,251.13

X
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

83 Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

Allocating Federal and 

Nonfederal Expenses

1. Who Must Allocate

A state, district or local party committee that has 

established a nonfederal account may allocate 

certain expenses between its federal and nonfederal accounts. An allocation formula determines the federal and nonfederal portions of an 

expense. The federal portion must be paid from 

funds subject to the limits and prohibitions of the 

Act. 106.7(b).

See “Committee Bank Accounts,” page 3, for 

further information on federal, nonfederal and 

Levin accounts. For information on allocation of 

expenses for federal election activity (FEA), see 

the following chapter.

2. What Expenses to 

Allocate

The categories of expenses listed below are subject to allocation.

Administrative Expenses

Administrative expenses must be allocated, 

including rent, utilities and offi ce supplies, except 

when such expenses are directly attributable to 

a clearly identifi ed candidate. 106.7(c)(2). Note 

that salaries are not allocable administrative 

expenses.

Generic Voter Drive Expenses 

(“Voter Drive Activity”)

Unless they otherwise qualify as federal election 

activity activity, expenses for voter registration, voter , expenses for voter registration, voter 

identifi cation, get-out-the-vote drives or any 

other activity that urges the general public to register or to vote or that supports a political party 

without promoting or opposing any federal or 

nonfederal candidate may be allocated between 

federal and nonfederal accounts. 106.7(c)(5).

Treasurer’s Name and Signature

The treasurer must sign and date Form 3X at the 

bottom of the Summary Page. Only a treasurer or 

assistant treasurer designated on Form 1 (Statement of Organization) may sign the report (see 

page 5). 104.14(a).

15. Filing Amendments

The committee must fi le an amended report if it:

• Discovers that an earlier report contained 

erroneous information; or

• Does not obtain required reporting information 

concerning a particular transaction until after 

the transaction has been reported. 104.7(b)(4).

Paper Filers

When fi ling an amendment to an original report, 

complete the Summary Page (including the 

treasurer’s signature), indicating on Line 4b that 

the document is an amended report. In addition 

to the Summary Page, submit a corrected version 

of the schedule that contained the incomplete or 

incorrect itemized information in the earlier report, along with a revised Detailed Summary Page, 

if appropriate. Transactions originally reported 

correctly do not have to be itemized again. The 

Commission recommends that the treasurer attach a cover letter explaining the changes.

Electronic Filers

Electronic fi lers must resubmit the entire report 

as amended.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

84 Chapter 13

Exempt Party Activity

State, district and local party committees may allocate from their federal and nonfederal accounts 

expenses for exempt party activities that are 

conducted in conjunction with nonfederal activity 

and are not federal election activity from their from their 

federal and nonfederal accounts. 106.7(c)(3).

Fundraising Expenses

When one program or event is held to collect 

federal funds (i.e., funds to be used in federal 

elections) and nonfederal funds (i.e., funds to 

be used in nonfederal elections), the sponsoring 

committee must allocate the direct costs of the 

activity, including planning, administrative and 

solicitation costs. 

Such expenses may be allocated provided that 

none of the proceeds will ever be used on FEA. 

106.7(c)(4).

Candidate Support Expenses

Expenses for activities that are conducted on 

behalf of (or in opposition to) specifi c federal 

and nonfederal candidates must be allocated. 

106.1(a)(2).

The amount allocated to a federal candidate is 

considered:

• An in-kind contribution;

• A coordinated party expenditure;

• An independent expenditure; or

• A disbursement for an exempt party activity.

3. Allocation Methods

Fixed Percentage Ratio

Used For:

Administrative expenses, generic voter drives and 

exempt party activities.

Note: any of the above activities that qualify as 

federal election activity must be paid for under 

unique rules. See Chapter 14 for more

information.

Calculation:

Under this allocation ratio, the minimum percentage of federal funds depends upon which federal 

offi ces appear on the ballot during the relevant 

election year:

• If both a Presidential candidate and a Senate 

candidate appear on the ballot, then at least 36 

percent of the expenses must be allocated to 

the federal account;

• If a Presidential candidate, but not a Senate 

candidate, appears on the ballot, then at least 

28 percent of the expenses must be allocated to 

the federal account;

• If a Senate candidate, but not a Presidential 

candidate, appears on the ballot, then at least 

21 percent of the expenses must be allocated to 

the federal account; and

• If neither a Presidential candidate nor a Senate 

candidate appears on the ballot, then at least 

15 percent of the expenses must be allocated to 

the federal account. 106.7(d)(2)-(3)

Funds Received Ratio – 

Fundraising Expenses

Used For:

The direct costs of each fundraising program or 

event in which the committee collects both federal and nonfederal funds. This method is also used 

to allocate the direct expenses of a fundraiser for 

multiple federal or nonfederal candidates. 

Calculation:

Costs are allocated according to the ratio of 

federal funds received to total receipts for the 

program or event.

To determine the portion of the costs attributable as an in-kind contribution—or coordinated 

party expenditure, if applicable—on behalf of a 

particular federal candidate, divide the amount 

received for the federal candidate by total 

receipts for all candidates. 106.1(a)(1) and 

106.7(d)(4).

The allocation ratio is estimated before making 

payments for the program or event, based on a 

reasonable prediction of receipts. The committee 

has up to 60 days after the ending date of the 

program or event to:

• Adjust the ratio based on the actual funds 

received; and 

• Transfer funds from the nonfederal account to 

the federal (or allocation) account based on the 

adjusted allocation percentage.

Should additional federal receipts come in after 

the 60-day period, further ratio adjustments and 

reimbursements from the federal account to the 

nonfederal account will be necessary. The committee must note the intial ratio and adjustments 

in its reports. (Federal law permits the federal 

account to pay more than its share of an allocable 
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

85 Chapter 13

expense. However, overpayments by the nonfederal account are illegal.)

For purposes of the 60-day time period, 

the last day of an event is either the fi nal day 

of a telemarketing campaign or the day on 

which fi nal direct mail solicitations are mailed. 

106.7(d)(4)(ii).

Unique Identifier:

Because the allocation ratios will vary with each 

fundraising activity, committees are required to 

assign a unique title or code to each program or 

event and to use that identifi er consistently when 

reporting the activity. 104.17(b)(1)(iii).

Time or Space Ratio

Used For:

Communications that relate to federal and nonfederal elections and/or that support federal and 

nonfederal candidates, including direct candidate 

support activities, and that do not otherwise 

qualify as FEA or exempt party activity.

Note: Many communications will be considered 

FEA or exempt party activity or both. In those 

cases, the committee may not use the time/space 

allocation ratio.

Calculation: 

Costs are allocated according to the ratio of 

space or time devoted to federal candidates 

compared with the total space or time devoted to 

all candidates, federal and nonfederal. In the case 

of a phone bank, the ratio is determined by the 

number of questions or statements devoted to 

federal candidates compared with the total number of questions or statements for all candidates 

(or elections). 106.1(a)(1).

To determine the portion of the costs attributable as an in-kind contribution, coordinated 

party expenditure or independent expenditure on 

behalf of (or in opposition to) a particular federal 

candidate, divide the space/time devoted to that 

candidate by the total space/time devoted to all 

candidates. 106.1(a)(1).

Unique Identifier:

Because the allocation ratios will vary with each 

candidate support activity, committees are 

required to assign a unique title or code to each 

activity and to use that identifi er consistently 

when reporting the activity. 104.17(a)(1).

4. Payment of Allocated 

Expenses

Payment from Federal or 

Allocation Account

A party committee must pay the entire amount of 

an allocable expense from the federal account; it 

may transfer funds from the nonfederal account 

to the federal account solely to cover the nonfederal share of each allocable expense. 106.7(f)(1).

Alternatively, a party committee may establish 

a separate federal account—called an allocation account—solely for the purpose of paying 

allocable expenses. The committee transfers 

funds from its federal and nonfederal accounts to 

the allocation account in amounts equal to the 

federal and nonfederal shares of each allocable 

expense. 106.7(f)(2).

Transfers from Nonfederal 

Account

Transfers from the nonfederal account to pay 

the nonfederal portion of an allocable expense 

must be made within a 70-day window: no more 

than 10 days before or 60 days after the day the 

federal account (or allocation account) makes the 

payment. 106.7(f)(2).

Exception: If the nonfederal account transfers 

additional funds to the federal or allocation 

account due to an adjusted allocation ratio for 

a fundraising event, the transfer must be made 

within 60 days after the date of a fundraising 

program or event. 106.7(d)(4)(ii).

Note that transfers from a nonfederal account 

to pay its allocated share of expenses are an exception to the overall ban on nonfederal transfers 

to a federal or allocation account. 102.5(a)(1)(i).

Transfers from Federal Account

If an adjusted ratio for a fundraising event results 

in an increased federal portion, the federal account must transfer to the nonfederal account 

the increased share of federal fundraising payments. This is required because a nonfederal 

overpayment of an allocated expense, if left 

uncorrected, is a violation of the Act. The federal 

transfer to the nonfederal account must be made 

within the 60-day time limit explained above.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

86 Chapter 13

5. Reporting 

Allocated 

Administrative, 

Generic 

Voter Drive 

and Exempt 

Party Activity 

Expenses

Required Forms

• Schedule H1—Allocation Ratio 

for Administrative, Voter Drive 

Expenses, Exempt Activity Costs 

and Federal Election Activity

• Schedule H3—Transfers from 

Nonfederal Account

• Schedule H4—Payments for 

Allocable Expenses

Allocation Ratio (H1)

A state or local party committee 

uses Schedule H1 to state its fi xed 

percentage allocation ratio at the 

beginning of each calendar year. 

Nonfederal Transfers 

(H3)

Each reporting period, the committee discloses transfers from the 

nonfederal account to the federal 

(or allocation) account to pay 

the allocated nonfederal portion 

of administrative, voter drive and 

exempt activity costs. As previously noted, transfers must be 

made within a 70-day window (no 

more than 10 days before or 60 

days after an allocated payment is 

made).

The total amount of transfers itemized on Schedule H3 is 

entered on Line 18(a) of the Detailed Summary 

Page.

ALLOCATION RATIO FOR ADMINISTRATIVE / 

GENERIC VOTER DRIVE AND EXEMPT PARTY 

ACTIVITY EXPENSES (H1)

FE3AN037.PDF

. %

. %

. %

, , .

, , .

SCHEDULE H1 (FEC Form 3X)

METHOD OF ALLOCATION FOR:

ALLOCATED FEDERAL AND NON-FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIVE, GENERIC

VOTER DRIVE AND EXEMPT ACTIVITY COSTS

ALLOCATED FEDERAL AND LEVIN FUNDS FEDERAL ELECTION ACTIVITY

EXPENSES

FEC Schedule H1 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

USE ONLY ONE SECTION

State and Local Party Committees

Fixed Percentage (select one)

Presidential-Only Election Year (28% Federal)

Presidential and Senate Election Year (36% Federal)

Senate-Only Election Year (21% Federal)

Non-Presidential and Non-Senate Election Year (15% Federal)

Separate Segregated Funds and Non-Connected Committees

Funds Expended

Estimated Direct Candidate Support -- Federal ...................................................

Estimated Direct Candidate Support -- Non-Federal ......

ADJUSTMENTS TO FUNDS EXPENDED:

Actual Direct Candidate

Support -- Federal ..................

Actual Direct Candidate

Support -- Non-Federal .........

X

Freedom Party State Committee

TRANSFER FROM NONFEDERAL ACCOUNT (H3)

FE3AN037.PDF

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SCHEDULE H3 (FEC Form 3X)

TRANSFERS FROM NON-FEDERAL ACCOUNTS FOR

SHARED FEDERAL / NON-FEDERAL ACTIVITY

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

PAGE OF

FOR LINE 18a OF FORM 3X

NAME OF ACCOUNT

, , .

DATE OF RECEIPT TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

TOTALS FOR BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

FEC Schedule H3 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

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TOTAL This Period (Administrative) ....................................

TOTAL This Period (Generic Voter Drive) .......................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Fundraising Amount) ..........................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Candidate Support) .......................................................

TOTAL This Period (Exempt Activities) ....................................................................................

TOTAL This Period (Total Amount Transferred) ...................................................................................

BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

i) Total Administrative .............................................................................................................

ii) Generic Voter Drive ..............................................................................................................

iii) Exempt Activities .................................................................................................................

iv) Direct Fundraising (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Fundraising ............................................................

v) Candidate Support (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Candidate Support ................................................

1 1

Nonfederal Account 05 10 2004 3,200.00

3,200.00

Freedom Party State Committee

ALLOCATED PAYMENT (H4)

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

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M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

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FOR LINE 21a OF FORM 3X

PAGE OF

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SCHEDULE H4 (FEC Form 3X)

DISBURSEMENT FOR SHARED FEDERAL/NON-FEDERAL

ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

C. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

A. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

B. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

+ =

+ =

1 1

Henry George Realty

111 Property Street

X

Rent 001

5,000.00

04 15 2004

1,800.00 3,200.00 5,000.00

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

Payments (H4)

Each reporting period, the committee uses Schedule H4 to itemize all payments for administrative, 

voter drive and exempt activity costs, showing the 

allocated federal and nonfederal shares.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

87 Chapter 13

6. Reporting 

Allocated 

Committee 

Fundraising 

Expenses

Example

The Freedom Party State Committee raises money for its federal and 

nonfederal accounts at a banquet 

called “Memorial Day Gala” (the 

unique identifi er). People buying 

tickets must designate their checks 

as either federal contributions 

(subject to the limits and prohibitions of the Act) or nonfederal 

contributions (subject to applicable state law). People wishing 

to contribute to both accounts 

must write separate checks to each 

account. The Freedom Party State 

Committee spends $10,000 on 

“Memorial Day Gala.”

Required Forms

• Schedule H2—Allocation Ratios

• Schedule H3—Transfers from 

Nonfederal Account

• Schedule H4—Payments for 

Allocable Expenses

Estimated Fundraising 

Ratio (H2)

A committee raising money for 

both its federal and nonfederal 

accounts through the same fundraising activity allocates the costs 

directly associated with the program or event according to the “funds received” method (ratio of 

federal funds received to total funds received). In 

the fi rst reporting period in which money is spent 

on “Memorial Day Gala,” the Freedom Party State 

Committee estimates the ratio on Schedule H2, 

as shown in the illustration.

The committee must continue to fi le Schedule 

H2 with each report disclosing a disbursement 

for “Memorial Day Gala.”

ESTIMATED FUNDRAISING RATIO (H2)

FE3AN037.PDF

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

SCHEDULE H2 (FEC Form 3X)

ALLOCATION RATIOS

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

FEC Schedule H2 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

RATIOS FOR ALLOCABLE FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND DIRECT CANDIDATE SUPPORT

ACTIVITIES APPEARING ON THIS REPORT.

Methods of allocation:

I. FUNDRAISING activities are allocated using the “funds received method” where the federal proportion of expenses must

equal the federal proportion of monies raised.

II. Shared DIRECT CANDIDATE SUPPORT activities are allocated according to benefit expected to be derived, where the

federal proportion of disbursements is based on the benefit derived by federal candidates from the activity.

PAGE OF

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

1 1

Memorial Day Gala

X

X

30.00 70.00

Freedom Party State Committee

TRANSFER FROM NONFEDERAL ACCOUNT (H3)

FE3AN037.PDF

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SCHEDULE H3 (FEC Form 3X)

TRANSFERS FROM NON-FEDERAL ACCOUNTS FOR

SHARED FEDERAL / NON-FEDERAL ACTIVITY

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

PAGE OF

FOR LINE 18a OF FORM 3X

NAME OF ACCOUNT

, , .

DATE OF RECEIPT TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

TOTALS FOR BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

FEC Schedule H3 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

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, , .

TOTAL This Period (Administrative) ....................................

TOTAL This Period (Generic Voter Drive) .......................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Fundraising Amount) ..........................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Candidate Support) .......................................................

TOTAL This Period (Exempt Activities) ....................................................................................

TOTAL This Period (Total Amount Transferred) ...................................................................................

BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

i) Total Administrative .............................................................................................................

ii) Generic Voter Drive ..............................................................................................................

iii) Exempt Activities .................................................................................................................

iv) Direct Fundraising (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Fundraising ............................................................

v) Candidate Support (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Candidate Support ................................................

1 1

Nonfederal Account 05 31 2004 7,000.00

Memorial Day Gala 7,000.00

7,000.00

Freedom Party State Committee

FE3AN037.PDF

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, , .

SCHEDULE H3 (FEC Form 3X)

TRANSFERS FROM NON-FEDERAL ACCOUNTS FOR

SHARED FEDERAL / NON-FEDERAL ACTIVITY

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

PAGE OF

FOR LINE 18a OF FORM 3X

NAME OF ACCOUNT

, , .

DATE OF RECEIPT TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

TOTALS FOR BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

FEC Schedule H3 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

TOTAL This Period (Administrative) ....................................

TOTAL This Period (Generic Voter Drive) .......................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Fundraising Amount) ..........................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Candidate Support) .......................................................

TOTAL This Period (Exempt Activities) ....................................................................................

TOTAL This Period (Total Amount Transferred) ...................................................................................

BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

i) Total Administrative .............................................................................................................

ii) Generic Voter Drive ..............................................................................................................

iii) Exempt Activities .................................................................................................................

iv) Direct Fundraising (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Fundraising ............................................................

v) Candidate Support (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Candidate Support ................................................

1 1

Nonfederal Account 05 31 2004 7,000.00

Memorial Day Gala 7,000.00

7,000.00

Freedom Party State Committee

ALLOCATED PAYMENT (H4)

, , . , , . , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

, , . , , . , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

, , . , , . , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

FOR LINE 21a OF FORM 3X

PAGE OF

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SUBTOTAL of Allocated Federal and Non-Federal Activity This Page

, , . , , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

TOTAL This Period (last page for each line only)(Federal share to 21(a)(i) and Non-Federal share to 21(a)(ii))

FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

SCHEDULE H4 (FEC Form 3X)

DISBURSEMENT FOR SHARED FEDERAL/NON-FEDERAL

ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

C. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

A. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

B. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

+ =

+ =

+ =

+ =

1 1

Champagn Jam Party Planners X

111 Event Lane

Fundraising Event Planning

Memorial Day Gala

003

10,000.00

05 30 2004

3,000.00 7,000.00 10,000.00

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

The federal and nonfederal payment totals 

that appear on Schedule H4 are entered on Lines 

21a(i) and (ii) of the Form 3X Detailed Summary 

Page.

Phone banks

In some cases, phone banks have their own allocation rules. See page 39.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

88 Chapter 13

Nonfederal Transfer 

(H3)

Using Schedule H3, the Freedom 

Party State Committee reports the 

transfer received from the nonfederal account to pay the nonfederal 

portion of “Memorial Day Gala” 

($7,000). The unique identifi er is 

again noted.

(The total amount of transfers 

itemized on Schedule H3 is entered on Line 18(a) of the Detailed 

Summary Page.)

Payments (H4)

The committee discloses the 

federal and nonfederal shares of 

“Memorial Day Gala” payments 

on Schedule H4, again using the 

unique identifi er.

(The federal and nonfederal 

payments totals that appear on 

Schedule H4 are entered on Lines 

21a(i) and (ii) of the Detailed 

Summary Page.)

Adjusted Ratio (H2)

Within 60 days after the last day 

of the program or event, the committee needs to 

adjust the allocation ratio to refl ect the actual ratio of federal receipts to total receipts. The committee reports the adjusted ratio on Schedule H2. 

Note that the committee must disclose the date 

of a fundraising program or event when reporting 

an adjustment to the ratio.

(Further ratio adjustments will be necessary if 

additional receipts come in.)

Federal Transfer (H4)

If the adjusted ratio increases the federal portion, the federal (or allocation) account must 

make a transfer to the nonfederal account for the 

nonfederal overpayment. The date of the program 

or event must be noted when reporting a transfer 

based on an adjusted ratio.

FEDERAL TRANSFER (H4)

FE3AN037.PDF

, , . , , . , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

, , . , , . , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

, , . , , . , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

FOR LINE 21a OF FORM 3X

PAGE OF

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , . TOTAL This Period for the Non-Federal Share

FEC Schedule H4 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

SUBTOTAL of Allocated Federal and Non-Federal Activity This Page

, , . , , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

TOTAL This Period (last page for each line only)(Federal share to 21(a)(i) and Non-Federal share to 21(a)(ii))

, , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

NON-FEDERAL SHARE

SCHEDULE H4 (FEC Form 3X)

DISBURSEMENT FOR SHARED FEDERAL/NON-FEDERAL

ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

C. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

A. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

B. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

+ =

+ =

+ =

+ =

1 1

Nonfederal Account

111 Headquarters Street

X

Ratio Adjustment Transfer 003

55,000.00

06 15 2004

5,000.00 ------- 5,000.00

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

Memorial Day Gala (05/30/04)

ADJUSTED RATIO: FEDERAL PERCENTAGE 

INCREASED (H2)

FE3AN037.PDF

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

SCHEDULE H2 (FEC Form 3X)

ALLOCATION RATIOS

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

FEC Schedule H2 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

RATIOS FOR ALLOCABLE FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND DIRECT CANDIDATE SUPPORT

ACTIVITIES APPEARING ON THIS REPORT.

Methods of allocation:

I. FUNDRAISING activities are allocated using the “funds received method” where the federal proportion of expenses must

equal the federal proportion of monies raised.

II. Shared DIRECT CANDIDATE SUPPORT activities are allocated according to benefit expected to be derived, where the

federal proportion of disbursements is based on the benefit derived by federal candidates from the activity.

PAGE OF

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

Memorial Day Gala (05/30/04)

X

X

60.00 40.00

Freedom Party State Committee

1 1
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

89 Chapter 13

Adjusted Ratio (H2)

Nonfederal Transfer 

(H3)

If the adjusted ratio increases the 

nonfederal portion, the nonfederal account may transfer the 

additional amount to the federal 

account if it does so within 60 

days after the date of the event. 

Nonfederal transfers are itemized 

on Schedule H3. The date of the 

program or event must be noted 

when reporting a ratio adjustment 

or a corrective transfer.

NONFEDERAL TRANSFER (H3)

FE3AN037.PDF

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

SCHEDULE H3 (FEC Form 3X)

TRANSFERS FROM NON-FEDERAL ACCOUNTS FOR

SHARED FEDERAL / NON-FEDERAL ACTIVITY

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

PAGE OF

FOR LINE 18a OF FORM 3X

NAME OF ACCOUNT

, , .

DATE OF RECEIPT TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

TOTALS FOR BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

FEC Schedule H3 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

TOTAL This Period (Administrative) ....................................

TOTAL This Period (Generic Voter Drive) .......................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Fundraising Amount) ..........................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Candidate Support) .......................................................

TOTAL This Period (Exempt Activities) ....................................................................................

TOTAL This Period (Total Amount Transferred) ...................................................................................

BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

i) Total Administrative .............................................................................................................

ii) Generic Voter Drive ..............................................................................................................

iii) Exempt Activities .................................................................................................................

iv) Direct Fundraising (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Fundraising ............................................................

v) Candidate Support (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Candidate Support ................................................

1 1

Nonfederal Account 06 15 2004 5,000.00

Memorial Day Gala (05/30/04) 5,000.00

5,000.00

Freedom Party State Committee

FE3AN037.PDF

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

SCHEDULE H3 (FEC Form 3X)

TRANSFERS FROM NON-FEDERAL ACCOUNTS FOR

SHARED FEDERAL / NON-FEDERAL ACTIVITY

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

PAGE OF

FOR LINE 18a OF FORM 3X

NAME OF ACCOUNT

, , .

DATE OF RECEIPT TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

TOTALS FOR BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

FEC Schedule H3 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

TOTAL This Period (Administrative) ....................................

TOTAL This Period (Generic Voter Drive) .......................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Fundraising Amount) ..........................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Candidate Support) .......................................................

TOTAL This Period (Exempt Activities) ....................................................................................

TOTAL This Period (Total Amount Transferred) ...................................................................................

BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

i) Total Administrative .............................................................................................................

ii) Generic Voter Drive ..............................................................................................................

iii) Exempt Activities .................................................................................................................

iv) Direct Fundraising (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Fundraising ............................................................

v) Candidate Support (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Candidate Support ................................................

1 1

Nonfederal Account 06 15 2004 5,000.00

Memorial Day Gala (05/30/04) 5,000.00

5,000.00

Freedom Party State Committee

ADJUSTED RATIO: NONFEDERAL PERCENTAGE 

INCREASED (H2)

FE3AN037.PDF

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

SCHEDULE H2 (FEC Form 3X)

ALLOCATION RATIOS

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

FEC Schedule H2 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

RATIOS FOR ALLOCABLE FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND DIRECT CANDIDATE SUPPORT

ACTIVITIES APPEARING ON THIS REPORT.

Methods of allocation:

I. FUNDRAISING activities are allocated using the “funds received method” where the federal proportion of expenses must

equal the federal proportion of monies raised.

II. Shared DIRECT CANDIDATE SUPPORT activities are allocated according to benefit expected to be derived, where the

federal proportion of disbursements is based on the benefit derived by federal candidates from the activity.

PAGE OF

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

Memorial Day Gala (05/30/04)

X

X

40.00 60.00

Freedom Party State Committee

1 1
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

90 Chapter 13

7. Candidate 

Support 

Activities 

as In-Kind 

Contributions

This section discusses how to 

report direct candidate support 

which is an in-kind contribution. 

However, direct candidate support may instead be a coordinated 

party expenditure, independent 

expenditure or exempt party activity. Each type should be reported 

accordingly.

Example

The Freedom Party State Committee decides to sponsor a limited 

mailing urging support of two 

federal candidates (a U.S. House 

candidate and a U.S. Senate 

candidate) and three nonfederal 

candidates. The committee pays 

$1,000 to design and mail the 

300 letters.

Note: Because the mailing is less than 500 letters in thirty days, it does not qualify as a public 

communication. Had the communication quali- . Had the communication qualifi ed as a mass mailing and supported a federal 

candidate, then it would have been considered 

FEA and its cost would be paid for entirely with 

federal funds.

Required Forms 

• Schedule H2—Allocation Ratios

• Schedule H3—Transfers from Nonfederal 

Account

• Schedule H4—Payments for Allocable Expenses

• Schedule B for Line 23—Contributions to 

Federal Candidates

Allocation Ratio (H2)

The committee uses Schedule H2 to disclose the 

allocation ratio for “June Mailing” (the unique 

identifi er). The federal allocation percentage is 

calculated using the time/space method (ratio of 

time/space devoted to federal candidates to total 

time/space devoted to all candidates). In this 

case, 40 percent of the total space is devoted 

to federal candidates, so the ratio is 40 percent 

federal and 60 percent nonfederal.

Nonfederal Transfer (H3)

The committee discloses the transfer from the 

nonfederal account to pay the allocated nonfederal portion of “June Mailing” costs. As previously 

noted, a transfer must be made no more than 10 

days before or 60 days after payment is made.

The total amount of transfers itemized on 

Schedule H3 is entered on Line 18(a) of the 

Detailed Summary Page.

CANDIDATE SUPPORT RATIO (H2)

FE3AN037.PDF

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

SCHEDULE H2 (FEC Form 3X)

ALLOCATION RATIOS

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

FEC Schedule H2 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

RATIOS FOR ALLOCABLE FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND DIRECT CANDIDATE SUPPORT

ACTIVITIES APPEARING ON THIS REPORT.

Methods of allocation:

I. FUNDRAISING activities are allocated using the “funds received method” where the federal proportion of expenses must

equal the federal proportion of monies raised.

II. Shared DIRECT CANDIDATE SUPPORT activities are allocated according to benefit expected to be derived, where the

federal proportion of disbursements is based on the benefit derived by federal candidates from the activity.

PAGE OF

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

ACTIVITY OR EVENT IDENTIFIER

ACTIVITY IS:

Fundraising Direct Candidate Support

CHECK IF THE RATIO IS:

New Revised Same as Previously Reported

FEDERAL % NON-FEDERAL %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

. % . %

Freedom Party State Committee

1 1

June Mailing

X

X

40.00 60.00

TRANSFER FROM NONFEDERAL ACCOUNT (H3)

FE3AN037.PDF

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

SCHEDULE H3 (FEC Form 3X)

TRANSFERS FROM NON-FEDERAL ACCOUNTS FOR

SHARED FEDERAL / NON-FEDERAL ACTIVITY

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

PAGE OF

FOR LINE 18a OF FORM 3X

NAME OF ACCOUNT

, , .

DATE OF RECEIPT TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

TOTALS FOR BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

FEC Schedule H3 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

TOTAL This Period (Administrative) ....................................

TOTAL This Period (Generic Voter Drive) .......................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Fundraising Amount) ..........................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Candidate Support) .......................................................

TOTAL This Period (Exempt Activities) ....................................................................................

TOTAL This Period (Total Amount Transferred) ...................................................................................

BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

i) Total Administrative .............................................................................................................

ii) Generic Voter Drive ..............................................................................................................

iii) Exempt Activities .................................................................................................................

iv) Direct Fundraising (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Fundraising ............................................................

v) Candidate Support (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Candidate Support ................................................

Freedom Party State Committee

1 1

Nonfederal Account 07 20 2004 600.00

June Mailing 600.00

FE3AN037.PDF

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

SCHEDULE H3 (FEC Form 3X)

TRANSFERS FROM NON-FEDERAL ACCOUNTS FOR

SHARED FEDERAL / NON-FEDERAL ACTIVITY

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

PAGE OF

FOR LINE 18a OF FORM 3X

NAME OF ACCOUNT

, , .

DATE OF RECEIPT TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

TOTALS FOR BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

FEC Schedule H3 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

TOTAL This Period (Administrative) ....................................

TOTAL This Period (Generic Voter Drive) .......................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Fundraising Amount) ..........................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Candidate Support) .......................................................

TOTAL This Period (Exempt Activities) ....................................................................................

TOTAL This Period (Total Amount Transferred) ...................................................................................

BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

i) Total Administrative .............................................................................................................

ii) Generic Voter Drive ..............................................................................................................

iii) Exempt Activities .................................................................................................................

iv) Direct Fundraising (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Fundraising ............................................................

v) Candidate Support (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Candidate Support ................................................

Freedom Party State Committee

1 1

Nonfederal Account 07 20 2004 600.00

June Mailing 600.00
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

91 Chapter 13

Payments (H4 and B)

The committee uses Schedule 

H4 to itemize the two payments 

for “June Mailing” Because the 

allocated federal shares result in 

contributions in-kind, they are 

itemized as memo entries with 

cross references to Schedule B for 

Line 23, where the in-kind contributions are itemized.

The Schedule B entries include 

the amounts allocable to each 

federal candidate, also based on 

the time/space method. In this 

case, the committee allocates 50 

percent of the federal payment to 

each candidate.

Nonfederal payments disclosed 

on Schedule H4 are entered on 

Line 21a(ii) of the Form 3X Detailed Summary Page. The Schedule B total is entered on Line 23.

ALLOCATED PAYMENT (H4)

FE3AN037.PDF

, , . , , . , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

, , . , , . , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

, , . , , . , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

FOR LINE 21a OF FORM 3X

PAGE OF

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , . TOTAL This Period for the Non-Federal Share

FEC Schedule H4 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

SUBTOTAL of Allocated Federal and Non-Federal Activity This Page

, , . , , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

TOTAL This Period (last page for each line only)(Federal share to 21(a)(i) and Non-Federal share to 21(a)(ii))

, , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

NON-FEDERAL SHARE

SCHEDULE H4 (FEC Form 3X)

DISBURSEMENT FOR SHARED FEDERAL/NON-FEDERAL

ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

C. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE + NON-FEDERAL SHARE = TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

A. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

B. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE + NON-FEDERAL SHARE = TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

+ =

+ =

1 1

Freedom Party State Committee

Dee Zyner

X 111 Adobe Ave.

City ST 00000

Graphics Design 011

1000.00

06 01 2004 June Mailing (See Schedule B, Line 23)

400.00 600.00 1000.00

MEMO

ALLOCATION OF IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION (B)

FE3AN037.PDF

SCHEDULE B (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , .

SUBTOTAL of Disbursements This Page (optional) .................................................................. , , .

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

FEC Schedule B (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

A. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

B. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

C. Date of Disbursement

Use separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF

(check only one)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

21b 22 23 24 25 26

27 28a 28b 28c 29 30b

X

Freedom Party State Committee

Guy Blank for Congress

Dee Zyner

111 Adobe Ave.

City ST 00000

Graphics Design 011

400.00

06 01 2004

June Mailing

See allocation below.

111 Gari Street

Contribution

Guy Blank

X

ST 6

X

011

City ST 00000

200.00

200.00

011

City ST 00000

Contribution

MEMO

MEMO X

ST 5

X

111 Demos Street

Bob Voteworthy for Congress

Bob Voteworthy

06 01 2004

06 01 2004
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

92 Chapter 13

8. Transfers and 

Payments 

Covering 

Different 

Categories

The sample forms in this section 

show:

• How to report a nonfederal 

transfer that covers nonfederal 

payments for several allocable 

activities; and

• How to report a payment to one 

vendor for several categories of 

expenses.

Schedule H3

The Schedule H3 below shows how 

to report transfers received from 

a nonfederal account to pay for 

different categories of allocable 

expenses.

The $4,000 transfer covers the 

following allocable expenses:

• A direct fundraising event (“Big 

Gala”); and

• An exempt party activity 

(“Johnson/Smith Posters”).

Schedule H4

The Schedule H4 below shows 

how to report a payment covering 

expenses for:

• The “Big Gala” fundraiser; and

• The “Johnson/Smith Posters” 

exempt party activity.

NONFEDERAL TRANSFER (H3)

FE3AN037.PDF

, , .

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, , .

, , .

, , .

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SCHEDULE H3 (FEC Form 3X)

TRANSFERS FROM NON-FEDERAL ACCOUNTS FOR

SHARED FEDERAL / NON-FEDERAL ACTIVITY

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

PAGE OF

FOR LINE 18a OF FORM 3X

NAME OF ACCOUNT

, , .

DATE OF RECEIPT TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

TOTALS FOR BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

FEC Schedule H3 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

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TOTAL This Period (Administrative) ....................................

TOTAL This Period (Generic Voter Drive) .......................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Fundraising Amount) ..........................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Candidate Support) .......................................................

TOTAL This Period (Exempt Activities) ....................................................................................

TOTAL This Period (Total Amount Transferred) ...................................................................................

BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

i) Total Administrative .............................................................................................................

ii) Generic Voter Drive ..............................................................................................................

iii) Exempt Activities .................................................................................................................

iv) Direct Fundraising (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Fundraising ............................................................

v) Candidate Support (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Candidate Support ................................................

1 1

Freedom Party State Committee

Nonfederal Account 08 31 2004 4,000.00

Big Event 2,000.00

2,000.00

2,000.00

2,000.00

2,000.00

2,000.00

4,000.00

Johnson / Smith Posters

FE3AN037.PDF

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SCHEDULE H3 (FEC Form 3X)

TRANSFERS FROM NON-FEDERAL ACCOUNTS FOR

SHARED FEDERAL / NON-FEDERAL ACTIVITY

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

PAGE OF

FOR LINE 18a OF FORM 3X

NAME OF ACCOUNT

, , .

DATE OF RECEIPT TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

TOTALS FOR BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

FEC Schedule H3 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

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TOTAL This Period (Administrative) ....................................

TOTAL This Period (Generic Voter Drive) .......................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Fundraising Amount) ..........................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Candidate Support) .......................................................

TOTAL This Period (Exempt Activities) ....................................................................................

TOTAL This Period (Total Amount Transferred) ...................................................................................

BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

i) Total Administrative .............................................................................................................

ii) Generic Voter Drive ..............................................................................................................

iii) Exempt Activities .................................................................................................................

iv) Direct Fundraising (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Fundraising ............................................................

v) Candidate Support (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Candidate Support ................................................

1 1

Freedom Party State Committee

Nonfederal Account 08 31 2004 4,000.00

Big Event 2,000.00

2,000.00

2,000.00

2,000.00

2,000.00

2,000.00

4,000.00

Johnson / Smith Posters

ALLOCATED PAYMENT (H4)

FE3AN037.PDF

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FOR LINE 21a OF FORM 3X

PAGE OF

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , . TOTAL This Period for the Non-Federal Share

FEC Schedule H4 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

SUBTOTAL of Allocated Federal and Non-Federal Activity This Page

, , . , , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

TOTAL This Period (last page for each line only)(Federal share to 21(a)(i) and Non-Federal share to 21(a)(ii))

, , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

NON-FEDERAL SHARE

SCHEDULE H4 (FEC Form 3X)

DISBURSEMENT FOR SHARED FEDERAL/NON-FEDERAL

ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

C. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

A. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

B. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

+ =

+ =

+ =

+ =

Freedom Party State Committee

1 1

Acme Printing

111 Gutenburg St.

City ST 00000

11,000.00

09 01 2004

Printing (see below)

MEMO

X

X

Printing Invitations

Big Event

003

5,000.00

09 01 2004

09 01 2004

3,000.00 2,000.00 5,000.00

Johnson / Smith Posters

Printing

6,000.00

4,000.00 2,000.00 6,000.00

7,000.00 4,000.00 11,000.00

7,000.00 11,000.00

4,000.00

Acme Printing

111 Gutenburg St.

City ST 00000

Acme Printing

111 Gutenburg St.

City ST 00000

004
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

93 Chapter 13

9. Refunds and 

Rebates of 

Allocable 

Expenses

If a committee receives a refund 

or a rebate of an allocable expense, the refund or rebate must 

be deposited in the federal or 

allocation account. The refund 

or rebate must then be allocated 

between the federal and nonfederal 

accounts according to the same allocation ratio used to allocate the 

original disbursement. The federal 

account must transfer the nonfederal portion to the nonfederal 

account.

Example

A committee receives a $400 

rebate on offi ce equipment from 

the Acme Offi ce Store. The original 

purchase was an administrative 

expense allocated according to the 

following ratio: 64 percent federal; 

36 percent nonfederal.

Reporting Method 1 illustrates 

how this rebate would be reported 

according to the method approved 

in Advisory Opinion (AO) 1995-

22. Reporting Method 2 shows 

how the rebate would be reported 

under an alternative method.

Reporting Method 1

Using the method of reporting 

described in AO 1995-22, the 

committee discloses the receipt 

of the rebate and the federal and 

nonfederal shares on Schedule H4. 

The amounts are negative entries subtracted from 

total shared federal and nonfederal disbursements 

for the reporting period (disclosed on Lines 

21a(i) and (ii) of the Detailed Summary Page).

Reporting Method 2

Under the alternative method, the committee 

reports the receipt of the $400 rebate under the 

category “Offsets to Operating Expenditures” on 

ALLOCATION OF REBATE (H4) (METHOD 1)

FE3AN037.PDF

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M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

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M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

FOR LINE 21a OF FORM 3X

PAGE OF

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , . TOTAL This Period for the Non-Federal Share

FEC Schedule H4 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

SUBTOTAL of Allocated Federal and Non-Federal Activity This Page

, , . , , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

TOTAL This Period (last page for each line only)(Federal share to 21(a)(i) and Non-Federal share to 21(a)(ii))

, , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

NON-FEDERAL SHARE

SCHEDULE H4 (FEC Form 3X)

DISBURSEMENT FOR SHARED FEDERAL/NON-FEDERAL

ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

C. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

A. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

B. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

+ =

+ =

+ =

+ =

1 1

Freedom Party State Committee

Acme Office Supplies X

111 Paddenpencil St.

City ST 00000 6,600.00

Rebate

03 15 2004

-144.00 -256.00 -400.00

001

RECEIPT OF REBATE (A/LINE 15) (METHOD 2)

FE3AN037.PDF

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Aggregate Year-to-Date

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M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

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SCHEDULE A (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED RECEIPTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SUBTOTAL of Receipts This Page (optional) ............................................................................

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

A.

FEC Schedule A (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

B.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

C.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF U (check only one) se separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page 11a 11b 11c 12

13 14 15 16 17

1 1

X

Freedom Party State Committee

Acme Office Supplies

111 Paddenpencil St.

City ST 00000

03 01 2004

400.00

400.00

Rebate.

NONFEDERAL TRANSFER (H4) (METHOD 2)

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M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

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FOR LINE 21a OF FORM 3X

PAGE OF

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SUBTOTAL of Allocated Federal and Non-Federal Activity This Page

, , . , , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

TOTAL This Period (last page for each line only)(Federal share to 21(a)(i) and Non-Federal share to 21(a)(ii))

FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

SCHEDULE H4 (FEC Form 3X)

DISBURSEMENT FOR SHARED FEDERAL/NON-FEDERAL

ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

C. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

A. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

B. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

+ =

+ =

+ =

+ =

Freedom Party State Committee

1 1

Freedom Party State Committee Nonfederal Account X

111 Politics St.

City ST 00000

Transfer of Nonfederal Share of Rebate

(See Schedule A) 03 15 2004

001

256.00 0.00 256.00
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

94 Chapter 13

Per-Transaction Transfers

The federal transfer may be made on a per-transaction basis—that is, shortly before or on the 

same day the in-kind donation is received.

Escrow Transfers

Alternatively, the federal account may make bulk 

transfers to cover the federal share of anticipated 

in-kind donations. Under this “escrow” arrangement, a committee makes a good faith estimate of 

the amount of in-kind donations that it expects 

to receive and transfers suffi cient funds from the 

federal account to cover the federal share.

Adjustments

Should the federal account pay more than its 

share of an in-kind donation, adjustment transfers 

from the nonfederal account are permissible.

Basic Reporting of In-Kind 

Donations: Example

On October 1, a state party committee receives 

a $5,000 in-kind donation of fl owers from a 

corporation for a federal/nonfederal fundraiser 

(“Chairman’s Gala”). The estimated allocation 

ratio for the fundraiser is 50 percent federal and 

50 percent nonfederal. That same day, the federal 

account transfers its share of the in-kind donation ($2,500) to the nonfederal account.

Required Forms

• Schedule H2—Allocation Ratios

• Schedule H3—Transfers from Nonfederal 

Account

• Schedule H4—Payments for Allocable Expenses

Line 15 of the Form 3X Detailed Summary Page. 

The committee uses Schedule H4 to disclose the 

federal account’s $256 transfer to the nonfederal 

account for the nonfederal share.

10. Prohibited In-Kind 

Donations for Allocable 

Activities

While contributions from corporations, labor 

organizations and federal government contractors 

are prohibited under federal law, they are permissible under some state laws. If that is the case, 

such donations may be accepted by a nonfederal 

account for strictly nonfederal activity. However, 

the situation is more complicated when donations 

of goods or services from such sources are made 

in connection with allocable activity, such as a 

fundraiser at which both federal and nonfederal 

funds are collected.

In AO 1992-33, the Commission explained how 

a committee can legally accept an in-kind donation from a prohibited source in connection with 

an allocable administrative or fundraising activity. 

Note that the Commission has not addressed 

the receipt of in-kind donations from prohibited 

sources for the other types of allocable expenses 

(i.e., generic voter drives and candidate support 

activity).

Advance Payment of Federal 

Share

To avoid the receipt of a prohibited contribution 

by the federal account, that account must pay 

the nonfederal account for the federal share of 

the in-kind donation. This payment—a transfer 

to the nonfederal account—must be made in 

advance or on the date the goods or services are 

received.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

95 Chapter 13

Schedule H3—Receipt of InKind Donation

The committee reports the receipt 

of the in-kind donation as a transfer from the nonfederal account 

for the “Chairman’s Gala” fundraiser. The date used here is the 

date the committee received the 

fl owers.

“Disbursement” of In-Kind 

Donation (H4)

Like in-kind contributions, in-kind 

donations must be reported as 

both receipts and disbursements 

so as not to infl ate the cash-onhand balance. (The disbursement 

side refl ects the use or “expenditure” of the resources.) Schedule 

H4 is used for the disbursement 

entry, which shows the $5,000 

in-kind donation as a 100 percent nonfederal disbursement. 

The donor’s name and address is 

disclosed in the box generally used 

for payees.

Transfer from Federal Account 

(H4)

The second entry on Schedule 

H4 shows the contemporaneous 

transfer of $2,500 (the federal 

share of the donation) from the 

federal account to the nonfederal 

account. The explanation of the 

transfer is described in the “Purpose” box, with a reference to the 

previous entry.

Alternative Reporting Method

To minimize entries and avoid duplication, a 

committee may use alternative methods to report 

transactions relating to in-kind donations.

The committee may use one entry on Schedule 

H3 to show the receipt of all in-kind donations 

made within the same reporting period for a particular fundraising program or event (or administrative activity).

The committee may also use one entry on 

Schedule H4 to show total federal payments 

(transfers) made on the same day for the federal 

share of in-kind donations.

DISBURSEMENT OF IN-KIND DONATION; 

FEDERAL TRANSFER (H4)

FE3AN037.PDF

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M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

FOR LINE 21a OF FORM 3X

PAGE OF

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , . TOTAL This Period for the Non-Federal Share

FEC Schedule H4 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

SUBTOTAL of Allocated Federal and Non-Federal Activity This Page

, , . , , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

TOTAL This Period (last page for each line only)(Federal share to 21(a)(i) and Non-Federal share to 21(a)(ii))

, , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

NON-FEDERAL SHARE

SCHEDULE H4 (FEC Form 3X)

DISBURSEMENT FOR SHARED FEDERAL/NON-FEDERAL

ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

C. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

A. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

B. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

+ =

+ =

+ =

+ =

1 1

Freedom Party State Committee

Pretty Flowers, Inc. X

111 Primrose Path

City ST 00000 21,000.00

Flowers - In Kind

Chairman's Gala

003

10 01 2004

0.00 5,000.00 5,000.00

Freedom Party State Committee

111 Politics St.

City ST 00000

X

003

10 01 2004 Chairman's Gala

Transfer of Federal Share of In Kind

2,500.00 0.00 2,500.00

RECEIPT OF IN-KIND DONATION (H3)

FE3AN037.PDF

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SCHEDULE H3 (FEC Form 3X)

TRANSFERS FROM NON-FEDERAL ACCOUNTS FOR

SHARED FEDERAL / NON-FEDERAL ACTIVITY

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

PAGE OF

FOR LINE 18a OF FORM 3X

NAME OF ACCOUNT

, , .

DATE OF RECEIPT TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

TOTALS FOR BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

FEC Schedule H3 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

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TOTAL This Period (Administrative) ....................................

TOTAL This Period (Generic Voter Drive) .......................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Fundraising Amount) ..........................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Candidate Support) .......................................................

TOTAL This Period (Exempt Activities) ....................................................................................

TOTAL This Period (Total Amount Transferred) ...................................................................................

BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

i) Total Administrative .............................................................................................................

ii) Generic Voter Drive ..............................................................................................................

iii) Exempt Activities .................................................................................................................

iv) Direct Fundraising (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Fundraising ............................................................

v) Candidate Support (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Candidate Support ................................................

1 1

Freedom Party State Committee

Nonfederal Account 10 01 2004 5,000.00

Chairman's Gala - In Kind 5,000.00
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

96 Chapter 13

Example

A committee receives two in-kind 

donations from prohibited sources 

for a mixed federal/nonfederal 

fundraising event, “July Fundraiser”: 

• Invitations donated by XYZ 

Printing (value: $3,000) 

received on July 1; and

• Balloons donated by Balloons!, 

Inc. (value: $1,000) received on 

July 15.

The fundraising ratio for “July 

Fundraiser” is 50 percent federal, 

50 percent nonfederal. The federal 

account transfers its $2,000 share 

of the two donations on July 1.

Schedule H3—Receipt of InKind Donations

The committee uses one entry on 

Schedule H3 to show the total 

in-kind donations for “July Fundraiser” received during the reporting period. The “date of receipt” 

shows the period during which the 

committee received the contributions. The “July Fundraiser” entry 

cross references the Schedule H4 

entries showing the “disbursement” of the donations and the 

identity of the contributors.

Schedule H4—“Disbursement” 

of Donations; Federal Transfer

Schedule H4 shows the “disbursement” of the two in-kind donations by the nonfederal account, 

each entry identifying the donor 

and the dates the donations were 

received.

The third entry shows the federal account’s payment for its 50 

percent share of the two donations and the date 

of the transfer to the nonfederal account. The 

entry refers to the previous two entries to show 

the transfer relates to those transactions.

“Escrow” Transfer

Advance transfers from the federal account to 

the nonfederal account to pay the federal share 

of anticipated in-kind donations for allocable 

activities are reported on Schedule H4 as federal 

RECEIPT OF IN-KIND DONATION (H3)

FE3AN037.PDF

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SCHEDULE H3 (FEC Form 3X)

TRANSFERS FROM NON-FEDERAL ACCOUNTS FOR

SHARED FEDERAL / NON-FEDERAL ACTIVITY

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

PAGE OF

FOR LINE 18a OF FORM 3X

NAME OF ACCOUNT

, , .

DATE OF RECEIPT TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

TOTALS FOR BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

FEC Schedule H3 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

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TOTAL This Period (Administrative) ....................................

TOTAL This Period (Generic Voter Drive) .......................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Fundraising Amount) ..........................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Candidate Support) .......................................................

TOTAL This Period (Exempt Activities) ....................................................................................

TOTAL This Period (Total Amount Transferred) ...................................................................................

BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

i) Total Administrative .............................................................................................................

ii) Generic Voter Drive ..............................................................................................................

iii) Exempt Activities .................................................................................................................

iv) Direct Fundraising (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Fundraising ............................................................

v) Candidate Support (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Candidate Support ................................................

1 1

Freedom Party State Committee

Nonfederal Account 4,000.00

July Fundraiser - In-kind

see H4, p. 1, entries A&B

4,000.00

4,000.00

FE3AN037.PDF

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SCHEDULE H3 (FEC Form 3X)

TRANSFERS FROM NON-FEDERAL ACCOUNTS FOR

SHARED FEDERAL / NON-FEDERAL ACTIVITY

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

PAGE OF

FOR LINE 18a OF FORM 3X

NAME OF ACCOUNT

, , .

DATE OF RECEIPT TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

TOTALS FOR BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

FEC Schedule H3 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

, , .

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TOTAL This Period (Administrative) ....................................

TOTAL This Period (Generic Voter Drive) .......................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Fundraising Amount) ..........................................

TOTAL This Period (Direct Candidate Support) .......................................................

TOTAL This Period (Exempt Activities) ....................................................................................

TOTAL This Period (Total Amount Transferred) ...................................................................................

BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED

i) Total Administrative .............................................................................................................

ii) Generic Voter Drive ..............................................................................................................

iii) Exempt Activities .................................................................................................................

iv) Direct Fundraising (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Fundraising ............................................................

v) Candidate Support (List Activity or Event Identifier)

a)

b)

c) Total Amount Transferred For Direct Candidate Support ................................................

1 1

Freedom Party State Committee

Nonfederal Account 4,000.00

July Fundraiser - In-kind

see H4, p. 1, entries A&B

4,000.00

4,000.00

DISBURSEMENT OF IN-KIND DONATION; 

FEDERAL TRANSFER (H4)

FE3AN037.PDF

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M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

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M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

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M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

FOR LINE 21a OF FORM 3X

PAGE OF

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , . TOTAL This Period for the Non-Federal Share

FEC Schedule H4 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

SUBTOTAL of Allocated Federal and Non-Federal Activity This Page

, , . , , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE NON-FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

TOTAL This Period (last page for each line only)(Federal share to 21(a)(i) and Non-Federal share to 21(a)(ii))

, , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

NON-FEDERAL SHARE

+ =

SCHEDULE H4 (FEC Form 3X)

DISBURSEMENT FOR SHARED FEDERAL/NON-FEDERAL

ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

C. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE + NON-FEDERAL SHARE = TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event:

Administrative Fundraising Exempt

Voter Drive Direct Candidate Support

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

A. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE + NON-FEDERAL SHARE = TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

B. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement:

Activity or Event Identifier:

FEDERAL SHARE + NON-FEDERAL SHARE = TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

1 1

Freedom Party State Committee

XYZ Printing

111 Pulp Street

City ST 00000

X

X

City ST 00000

City ST 00000

003

003

003

07 01 2004

07 01 2004

07 15 2004

Invitations - In-kind

Balloons - In-kind

July Fundraiser

July Fundraiser

3,000.00

0.00 3,000.00 3,000.00

1,000.00

0.00 1,000.00 1,000.00

2,000.00 0.00 2,000.00

Transfer of Federal Share of In-kind

Balloons! Inc.

99 Luft St.

July Fundraiser

Freedom Party State Committee Nonfederal Account X

111 Politics St.

share payments. If known, the particular activity 

(fundraising program/event or administrative) to 

which the transfer applies should be noted. Any 

adjustment payments made from the nonfederal 

account to the federal account would appear on 

Schedule H3, noting the previous H4 entries to 

which they relate.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

97 Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

Reporting Federal 

Election Activity

1. What to Report

If a state, district or local party committee’s 

combined annual receipts and disbursements 

for federal election activity (FEA) are $5,000 

or more, then it must disclose all receipts and 

disbursements for FEA, including those of Levin 

funds. 300.36(b)(2).

State, district and local party committees that 

have less than $5,000 in receipts and disbursements for FEA are required to disclose only their 

federal receipts and disbursements for FEA. 

300.36(b)(1).

2. When to File

A state, district or local party committee that has 

had any federal receipts or disbursements for 

FEA—or any reportable Levin receipts and disbursements—must fi le monthly. 300.36(c). Once 

a committee triggers the monthly fi ling requirement, it must fi le the next regularly scheduled 

monthly report and must continue to fi le monthly 

for the remainder of the calendar year. During the 

next year, if a committee would like to return to a 

quarterly fi ling schedule and is eligible to do so, it 

must fi le a request with the Commission. Committees fi ling electronically must fi le the request in an 

electronic format. 104.5(c)(3).

3. Reporting Receipts and 

Disbursements of Levin 

Funds

Schedule L – Aggregation Page

Aggregate receipts and disbursements are reported on Schedule L. The L Schedules are memo 

schedules and do not affect totals on the Summary and Detailed Summary Pages.

Line 1: Receipts from persons

Report total Levin fund donations received 

from individuals, committees and other entities 

that aggregate to $200 or more on Line 1(a). 

300.36(b)(2)(iv). Unitemized receipts are reported on Line 1(b).

Line 2: Other receipts

Report any receipts which are not donations, 

such as refunds, interest dividends, etc.

Line 3: Total Receipts

Enter the total of Lines 1 and 2 on Line 3.

Line 4: Transfers to Federal or Allocation 

Account

Itemize any Levin fund transfers into the federal or 

allocation account on Schedule L-B. Report the 

amount for each disbursement category, on Lines 

4a-d. Enter the total on Line 4e.

Line 5: Other Disbursements

Enter the total amount of all other Levin fund disbursements. Any disbursements of $200 or more 

are also itemized on Schedule L-B.

Line 6: Total Disbursements

Enter the total of Lines 4e and 5 on Line 6.

Line 7: Beginning Cash on Hand

Enter the total amount of Levin funds on hand at 

the beginning of the reporting period. For Column B, enter the total amount of cash on hand as 

of January 1 of the calendar year.

Line 8: Total Receipts

Repeat the total from Line 3.

Line 9: Subtotal

Add lines 7 and 8.

Line 10: Disbursements

Repeat the total from Line 6

Line 11: Ending Cash on Hand

Subtract Line 10 from Line 9 to determine the 

Levin funds on hand at the end of the reporting 

period.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

98 Chapter 14

Schedule L-A - Levin 

Fund Receipts

Itemize any receipt of $200 

or more on Schedule L-A. 

300.36(b)(2)(iv).

Committees must categorize 

their receipts between donations, 

which are reported on Line 1a of 

the Levin fund aggregation page, 

and other receipts such as refunds 

or uncashed checks which are 

reported on Line 2. Use separate 

Schedules for the different categories of receipts and note the Line 

number in the upper-right corner.

Schedule L-B – Levin 

Fund Disbursements

Itemize any disbursement of $200 

or more on Schedule L-B.

Committees must categorize 

their transfers on Line 4 by what 

type of federal election activity 

was allocated – voter registration, 

voter identifi cation, get out the 

vote activity or generic campaign 

activity. Other disbursements must 

be itemized when they aggregate 

$200 or more per entity in the 

calendar year. Use separate Schedules for each category of disbursement and note the Line number in 

the upper-right corner.

4. Allocation of Federal 

Election Activity

When Allocation is Required 

If the total disbursements for allocable FEA in a 

calendar year do not exceed $5,000, then the 

entire amount may be paid with Levin funds. 

300.32(c)(4). However, if a committee’s total 

allocable FEA disbursements exceed $5,000, the 

disbursements must be either paid for entirely 

with federal funds or allocated between federal 

and Levin funds (if it is allocable FEA).

LEVIN FUND AGGREGATION PAGE (L)

FE3AN037.PDF

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SCHEDULE L (FEC Form 3X)

AGGREGATION PAGE: LEVIN FUNDS

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

NAME OF ACCOUNT

COLUMN B

YEAR-TO-DATE

COLUMN A

TOTAL THIS PERIOD

FEC Schedule L (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

1. RECEIPTS FROM PERSONS

(a) Itemized ..................................... (Use Schedule L–A)

(b) Unitemized .................................

(c) Total............................................

2. OTHER RECEIPTS ..............................

3. TOTAL RECEIPTS ................................

(Add Lines 1c and 2)

4. TRANSFERS TO FEDERAL OR

ALLOCATION ACCOUNT (Use Schedule L–B)

(a) Voter Registration ......................

(b) Voter ID .....................................

(c) GOTV .........................................

(d) Generic Campaign ....................

(e) Total ...........................................

5. OTHER DISBURSEMENTS .................

6. TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS ................... (Add Lines 4e and 5)

7. BEGINNING CASH ON HAND ............ (for Column B, use cash as of January 1st)

8. RECEIPTS............................................. (from Line 3)

9. SUBTOTAL ............................................ (Add Lines 7 and 8)

10. DISBURSEMENTS................................ (From Line 6)

11. ENDING CASH ON HAND .................. (Subtract Line 10 From Line 9)

5,000.00 5,000.00

6,000.00 6,000.00

11,000.00 11,000.00

11,000.00 11,000.00

Freedom Party State Committee

Freedom Party State Committee Levin Account

RECEIPT OF LEVIN FUNDS (L-A)

FE3AN037.PDF

SCHEDULE L–A (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED RECEIPTS OF LEVIN FUNDS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

PAGE OF

FOR LINE NUMBER:

(check only one)

Use separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Aggregation Page 1a 2

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) / Full Organization Name

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

A.

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer or Principal Place of Business

Occupation

Aggregate Year-to-Date

, , .

, , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) / Full Organization Name

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

B.

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer or Principal Place of Business

Occupation

, , .

, , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) / Full Organization Name

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

C.

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer or Principal Place of Business

Occupation

, , .

, , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

SUBTOTAL of Receipts This Page (optional) ........................................................................... , , .

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ..............................................................

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) / Full Organization Name

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

D.

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer or Principal Place of Business

Occupation

, , .

, , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

FEC Schedule L–A (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Aggregate Year-to-Date

1 1

X

Globo-Chem Industries

111 Conglomerate Ave.

02 14 2004

2,000.00

2,000.00

Lira, Max

111 Tribute Street

02 23 2004

Globo-Chem Industries

Director of Acquisitions

3,000.00

3,000.00

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000

City ST 00000
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

99 Chapter 14

Disbursements for direct fundraising costs 

incurred by state, district and local party committees and organizations for federal funds to be 

used, in whole or in part, for FEA must be paid for 

entirely with federal funds. 300.32(a)(3).

What Federal Election Activity 

May Be Allocated

State, district and local party committees may 

allocate expenses arising from the following 

activities:

• Voter registration activity between 120 days 

before a regularly scheduled federal election 

and the date of the election; and

• Voter identifi cation, get-out-the-vote activity 

or generic campaign activity conducted in 

connection with an election in which a federal 

candidate appears on the ballot.

Disbursements for direct fundraising costs incurred by state, 

district and local party committees and organizations for both 

federal and Levin funds to be 

used, in whole or in part, for FEA 

must be paid for in an allocated 

ratio of federal and Levin funds. 

300.33(c)(3). Unlike most activities involving FEA, the allocation 

should follow the “Funds received” 

ratio described in the previous 

chapter.

Disbursements for direct fundraising costs incurred by state, 

district and local party committees and organizations for Levin 

funds only may be paid for with 

either federal funds or Levin funds. 

300.32(a)(4).

What Federal Election Activity 

May Not Be Allocated

Not all FEA may be allocated. Some must be paid 

for exclusively with federal funds, including:

• FEA that refers to a clearly identifi ed candidate;

• Public communications that refer to a clearly 

identifi ed federal candidate and that promote, 

attack, support or oppose any federal candidate; 

and,

• Services provided by an employee who 

spends more than 25 percent of his or her 

compensated time on activities in connection 

with a federal election. If the employee spends 

less than 25 percent of his or her compensated 

time on such activity, his or her services must 

be paid with funds that comply with state law. 

300.33(c). See also AO 2003-11.

UNALLOCATED FEA COMMUNICATION 

(B/LINE 30B)

FE3AN037.PDF

SCHEDULE B (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , .

SUBTOTAL of Disbursements This Page (optional) .................................................................. , , .

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

FEC Schedule B (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

A. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

B. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

C. Date of Disbursement

Use separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF

(check only one)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

21b 22 23 24 25 26

27 28a 28b 28c 29 30b

1 1

X

Freedom Party State Committee

M. Robbins Communications

111 Big Iron Rd.

City ST 00000

Television Advertisement

Guy Blank

ST 6

X

004

5,000.00

07 04 2004

RAISING FEDERAL FUNDS FOR FEA (B)

SCHEDULE B (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

A. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

B. Date of Disbursement

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

C. Date of Disbursement

Use separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF

(check only one)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Purpose of Disbursement

Candidate Name

Office Sought: House

Senate

President

State: District:

Category/

Type

Disbursement For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

21b 22 23 24 25 26

27 28a 28b 28c 29 30b

X

1 1

Special Events, Ltd.

111 Dinero Ln.

03 20 2004

Fundraising Event Planning 003

1,000.00

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

100 Chapter 14

6. Reporting Allocated 

Expenses

Required Forms 

• Schedule H1 - Allocation Ratio for 

Administrative, Generic Voter Drive and Exempt 

Activity Costs and Federal Election Activity;

• Schedule H5 – Transfers of Levin Funds 

Received for Allocated Federal Election Activity; 

and

• Schedule H6 – Disbursements of Federal and 

Levin Funds for Allocated Federal Election 

Activity.

Allocation Ratio (H1)

A state, district or local party committee uses 

Schedule H1 to calculate its allocation ratio at 

the beginning of each calendar year.

Allocation Ratio

When allocating FEA, committees 

must use a fi xed minimum percentage of federal funds. The minimum percentage of federal funds 

depends upon which federal offi ces 

appear on the ballot during the 

election year:

• If both a Presidential candidate 

and a Senate candidate appear 

on the ballot, then at least 36 

percent of the expenses must be 

allocated to the federal account;

• If a Presidential candidate, but 

not a Senate candidate, appears 

on the ballot, then at least 28 

percent of the expenses must be 

allocated to the federal account;

• If a Senate candidate, but not a 

Presidential candidate, appears on the ballot, 

then at least 21 percent of the expenses must 

be allocated to the federal account; and

• If neither a Presidential candidate nor a Senate 

candidate appears on the ballot, then at least 

15 percent of the expenses must be allocated to 

the federal account.

5. Reporting Unallocated 

Federal Election Activity

Report disbursements for unallocated FEA (FEA 

paid for entirely with federal funds) on Schedule 

B for Line 30(b) of the Detailed Summary Page. 

This includes payments for public communications that promote, attack, support or oppose 

any candidate for federal offi ce. See Chapter 12 

for further instructions.

ALLOCATION RATIO FOR LEVIN ACTIVITY (H1)

FE3AN037.PDF

. %

. %

. %

, , .

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SCHEDULE H1 (FEC Form 3X)

METHOD OF ALLOCATION FOR:

ALLOCATED FEDERAL AND NON-FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIVE, GENERIC

VOTER DRIVE AND EXEMPT ACTIVITY COSTS

ALLOCATED FEDERAL AND LEVIN FUNDS FEDERAL ELECTION ACTIVITY

EXPENSES

FEC Schedule H1 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

USE ONLY ONE SECTION

State and Local Party Committees

Fixed Percentage (select one)

Presidential-Only Election Year (28% Federal)

Presidential and Senate Election Year (36% Federal)

Senate-Only Election Year (21% Federal)

Non-Presidential and Non-Senate Election Year (15% Federal)

Separate Segregated Funds and Non-Connected Committees

Funds Expended

Estimated Direct Candidate Support -- Federal ...................................................

Estimated Direct Candidate Support -- Non-Federal ......

ADJUSTMENTS TO FUNDS EXPENDED:

Actual Direct Candidate

Support -- Federal ..................

Actual Direct Candidate

Support -- Non-Federal .........

X

Freedom Party State Committee
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

101 Chapter 14

Levin Transfers (H5)

Each reporting period, the committee discloses transfers from 

the Levin account to the federal 

(or allocation) account to pay 

the allocated portion of allocable 

federal election activity costs. 

Transfers must be made within a 

70-day window (no more than 

10 days before or 60 days after 

an allocated payment is made). 

300.33(d)(2).

Levin fund transfers are 

itemized on Schedule L-B.

The total amount of transfers 

itemized on Schedule H5 is 

entered on Line 18(b) of the Detailed Summary Page.

ACCOUNTING FOR LEVIN TRANSFER ON 

AGGREGATION PAGE (L)

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SCHEDULE L (FEC Form 3X)

AGGREGATION PAGE: LEVIN FUNDS

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

NAME OF ACCOUNT

COLUMN B

YEAR-TO-DATE

COLUMN A

TOTAL THIS PERIOD

1. RECEIPTS FROM PERSONS

(a) Itemized ..................................... (Use Schedule L–A)

(b) Unitemized .................................

(c) Total............................................

2. OTHER RECEIPTS ..............................

3. TOTAL RECEIPTS ................................

(Add Lines 1c and 2)

4. TRANSFERS TO FEDERAL OR

ALLOCATION ACCOUNT (Use Schedule L–B)

(a) Voter Registration ......................

(b) Voter ID .....................................

(c) GOTV .........................................

(d) Generic Campaign ....................

(e) Total ...........................................

5. OTHER DISBURSEMENTS .................

6. TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS ................... (Add Lines 4e and 5)

7. BEGINNING CASH ON HAND ............ (for Column B, use cash as of January 1st)

8. RECEIPTS............................................. (from Line 3)

9. SUBTOTAL ............................................ (Add Lines 7 and 8)

10. DISBURSEMENTS................................ (From Line 6)

11. ENDING CASH ON HAND .................. (Subtract Line 10 From Line 9)

Freedom Party State Committee

Freedom Party State Committee Levin Account

6,400.00 10,000.00

LEVIN TRANSFER (H5)

FE3AN037.PDF

, , . M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

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SCHEDULE H5 (FEC Form 3X)

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

PAGE OF

FOR LINE 18b OF FORM 3X

TRANSFERS OF LEVIN FUNDS RECEIVED FOR

ALLOCATED FEDERAL ELECTION ACTIVITY

(To be used by State, District and Local Party Committees Only)

NAME OF ACCOUNT DATE OF RECEIPT TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED

BREAKDOWN OF THIS TRANSFER

i) Voter Registration

Total Amount Transferred for Voter Registration .....

ii) Voter ID

Total Amount Transferred for Voter ID ..............................

iii) GOTV

Total Amount Transferred for GOTV ................................................

iv) Generic Campaign Activity

Total Amount Transferred for Generic Campaign Activity ..............................

VOTER REGISTRATION

VOTER ID

GOTV

GENERIC CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY

FEC Schedule H5 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

TOTALS FOR BREAKDOWN OF TRANSFER RECEIVED (Last Page Only)

TOTAL This Period (Voter Registration) .............................

TOTAL This Period (Voter ID) ......................................................

TOTAL This Period (GOTV) ...........................................................................

TOTAL This Period (Generic Campaign Activity) .....................................................

TOTAL This Period (Total Amount of Transfers Received)...................................................

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

, , .

NAME OF ACCOUNT DATE OF RECEIPT TOTAL AMOUNT TRANSFERRED

BREAKDOWN OF THIS TRANSFER

i) Voter Registration

Total Amount Transferred for Voter Registration .....

ii) Voter ID

Total Amount Transferred for Voter ID ..............................

iii) GOTV

Total Amount Transferred for GOTV ................................................

iv) Generic Campaign Activity

Total Amount Transferred for Generic Campaign Activity ..............................

VOTER REGISTRATION

, , . VOTER ID

, , . GOTV

, , . GENERIC CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY

, , .

1 1

Levin Account 05 15 2004 6,400.00

6,400.00

Freedom Party State Committee

LEVIN TRANSFER (L-B/LINE 4b)

FE3AN037.PDF

SCHEDULE L–B (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS

OF LEVIN FUNDS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

Use separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Aggregation Page

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF

(check only one)

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) / Full Organization Name

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

A. Date of Disbursement

Purpose of Disbursement

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) / Full Organization Name

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

B. Date of Disbursement

Purpose of Disbursement

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) / Full Organization Name

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

C. Date of Disbursement

Purpose of Disbursement

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) / Full Organization Name

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

D. Date of Disbursement

Purpose of Disbursement

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) / Full Organization Name

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code Amount of Each Disbursement this Period

, , .

E. Date of Disbursement

Purpose of Disbursement

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

SUBTOTAL of Disbursements This Page (optional) ................................................................. , , .

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ..............................................................

FEC Schedule L–B (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

4a 4c 5

X 4b 4d

1 1

Freedom Party State Committee, Federal Account

111 Headquarters Street

Transfer of Levin Funds

05 15 2004

6,400.00

Freedom Party State Committee

City ST 00000
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

102 Chapter 14

Payments (H6)

Each reporting period, the committee uses Schedule H6 to itemize 

all payments for allocable federal 

election activity costs, showing the 

allocated federal and Levin shares.

The federal and Levin payment 

totals that appear on Schedule H6 

are entered on Line 30(a) of the 

Form 3X Detailed Summary Page 

(federal share on Line 30(a)(i) and 

Levin share on Line 30(a)(ii)).

LEVIN PAYMENT (H6)

FE3AN037.PDF

, , . , , . , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

, , . , , . , , .

SCHEDULE H6 (FEC Form 3X)

DISBURSEMENTS OF FEDERAL AND LEVIN FUNDS

FOR ALLOCATED FEDERAL ELECTION ACTIVITY

(To be used by State, District and Local Party Committees Only) FOR LINE 30a OF FORM 3X

PAGE OF

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

, , . TOTAL This Period for the Levin Share

FEC Schedule H6 (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

SUBTOTAL of Shared Federal and Levin Activity This Page

, , . , , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE LEVIN SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

TOTAL This Period (last page for each line only)(Federal share to 30(a)(i) and Levin share to 30(a)(ii))

, , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE TOTAL AMOUNT

LEVIN SHARE

+ =

Type of Allocated Activity or Event:

Voter Registration GOTV

Voter ID Generic Campaign

A. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) / Full Organization Name

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

FEDERAL SHARE + LEVIN SHARE = TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Type of Allocated Activity or Event:

Voter Registration GOTV

Voter ID Generic Campaign

B. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) / Full Organization Name

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

FEDERAL SHARE + LEVIN SHARE = TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

Type of Allocated Activity or Event:

Voter Registration GOTV

Voter ID Generic Campaign

C. Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) / Full Organization Name

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Purpose of Disbursement

Allocated Activity or Event Year-To-Date

Date

, , . , , . , , .

FEDERAL SHARE + LEVIN SHARE = TOTAL AMOUNT

Category/

Type

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

, , .

Freedom Party State Committee

1 1

Voter Strategies

111 Data Rd.

Voter ID Calls

X

10,000.00

04 30 2004

3,600.00 6,400.00 10,000.00

City ST 00000
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

103 Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

Termination and Debt 

Settlement

1. Committees with No 

Outstanding Debts

A party committee may terminate its registration 

and reporting obligations by fi ling a termination 

report, provided that:

• The committee no longer intends to receive 

contributions, make expenditures, or make any 

disbursements that would otherwise qualify it as 

a political committee. 102.3(a)(1);

• Neither the committee seeking to terminate nor 

any affi liated committee has any outstanding 

debts or obligations (102.3); and

• The committee is not involved in an enforcement 

action, an audit or litigation with the FEC.

Termination Report

A party committee that meets the above criteria 

may fi le a termination report at any time. The 

treasurer must check the “Termination Report” 

box on Line 4 of the Form 3X Summary Page.

The termination report must disclose:

• All receipts and disbursements not previously 

reported, including an accounting of debt 

retirement; and

• The purposes for which any remaining 

committee funds will be used. 102.3(a).

A party committee may use its remaining funds 

for any lawful purpose, including refunding them 

to their donors or giving them to charity. AOs 

1992-10 and 1991-21.

When to Stop Reporting

The committee’s reporting obligation ends when 

the Commission notifi es the committee in writing 

that the termination report has been accepted.

2. Committees with 

Outstanding Debts: 

Debt Settlement

Eligibility for Debt Settlement

A committee that has outstanding debts but 

wants to terminate may settle its debts for less 

than the full amount owed to the creditors. This 

option is available only to a terminating committee —i.e., a committee which no longer intends to 

support candidates and which receives contributions and makes expenditures only for the 

purpose of paying winding-down administrative 

expenses (if any) and retiring debts. 116.1(a) 

and 116.2(a). (An ongoing committee—i.e., a 

committee that does not qualify as a terminating 

committee—is not eligible for debt settlement 

and must continuously report debts until they are 

extinguished. 104.3(d), 116.1(b) and 116.2(b). 

However, the committee may resolve their 

disputed debts or may request a Commission 

determination that such debts are not payable. 

116.10 and 116.9)

Debts Subject to Settlement

The types of debts that are subject to debt 

settlement requirements include:

• Amounts owed to commercial vendors;

• Debts arising from advances by individuals1

(e.g., staff using personal funds or credit to 

purchase goods and services on behalf of the 

committee);

• Salary owed to committee employees; and

• Loans owed to political committees or 

individuals (including candidates). 116.7(b).

Debts Not Subject to Settlement

The debt settlement rules do not apply to:

• Disputed debts Disputed debts, which are covered by other , which are covered by other 

rules (see below). 116.7(c)(2) and 116.10. 

• Bank loans. However, the Commission recognizes 

that under extraordinary circumstances, such 

as the death or bankruptcy of the candidate, 

settlement of bank loans may be appropriate. 

(The Commission will consider specifi c requests 

on a case-by-case basis.)

1 Advances of personal funds for committee expenses are 

treated as contributions under most circumstances. See 

page 10 for more information.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

104 Chapter 15

Debt Settlement Rules

A commercial vendor (incorporated or unincorporated) may 

forgive or settle debts owed by 

a committee without incurring a 

contribution if:

• Credit was initially extended in 

the ordinary course of business, 

and the terms of the credit are 

similar to those observed by 

the vendor when extending a 

similar amount of credit to a 

nonpolitical client of similar risk 

and size of obligation. 116.3 and 

116.4(d)(1);

• The committee undertook all 

reasonable efforts to satisfy 

the outstanding debt, such as 

fundraising, reducing overhead 

costs and liquidating assets. 

116.4(d)(2); and

• The vendor made the same 

efforts to collect the debt as 

those made to collect debts 

from a nonpolitical debtor in 

similar circumstances. Remedies 

might include, for example, late 

fee charges, referral to a debt 

collection agency or litigation. 

116.4(d)(3). If the committee or 

the creditor fails to take these 

steps, the difference between the 

amount owed and the amount 

actually paid may be considered 

a contribution. 114.2(b).

Creditor’s Rights

No commercial vendor or other creditor is required to forgive or settle debts owed by committees. 116.4(e). 

Debt Settlement Plans

Once a terminating committee has reached an 

agreement with a creditor, the treasurer should 

fi le a debt settlement plan on FEC Form 8. Debt 

settlement plans must include the signature of all 

creditors listed in Part I of Form 8. The treasurer 

may use a separate form for each debt or may 

combine several debt settlements in one plan.

Completing Form 8 

Step-by-step instructions for completing Form 8 

are included with the form. The treasurer must 

sign and date the fi rst page, Part I. 

Commission Review

The Commission reviews each debt settlement 

plan to ensure compliance with the rules discussed above and with the criteria listed in Commission regulations 116.7(f). After reviewing the 

plan, the Commission sends a written notifi cation 

to the committee.

Payment to Creditors

The committee must postpone paying the creditors included in a plan until the Commission has 

completed its review. 116.7(a).

DEBT SETTLEMENT, PART I

DEBT SETTLEMENT PLAN

NAME OF COMMITTEE

CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE

ADDRESS

PART I — COMMITTEE SUMMARY INFORMATION

15. AFTER DISPOSING OF ALL THE COMMITTEE‘S DEBTS AND OBLIGATIONS, WILL THERE BE ANY RESIDUAL FUNDS?

YES NO IF YES, HOW WILL THE FUNDS BE DISBURSED?

14. HAS THE COMMITTEE FILED PREVIOUS DEBT SETTLEMENT PLANS?

YES NO

13. DOES THE COMMITTEE HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PAY THE TOTAL AMOUNT INDICATED IN THIS PLAN?

YES NO IF NO, WHAT STEPS WILL BE TAKEN TO OBTAIN THE FUNDS?

12. IF THIS IS AN AUTHORIZED COMMITTEE, DOES THE CANDIDATE HAVE OTHER AUTHORIZED COMMITTEES?

YES NO IF YES, LIST BELOW.

11. IS THE COMMITTEE TERMINATING ITS ACTIVITIES?

YES NO IF YES, WHEN DOES THE COMMITTEE EXPECT TO FILE A TERMINATION REPORT? IF NO, COMMITTEE IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO FILE A DEBT

SETTLEMENT PLAN (SEE INSTRUCTIONS).

1. CASH ON HAND AS OF __________________

2. TOTAL ASSETS TO BE LIQUIDATED

3. TOTAL (ADD 1 AND 2)

4. YEAR TO DATE RECEIPTS

5. YEAR TO DATE DISBURSEMENTS

6. TOTAL AMOUNT OF DEBTS OWED BY THE COMMITTEE

7. TOTAL NUMBER OF CREDITORS OWED

8. NUMBER OF CREDITORS IN PART II OF THIS PLAN

9. TOTAL AMOUNT OF DEBTS OWED TO THE CREDITORS

IN PART II OF THIS PLAN

10. TOTAL AMOUNT TO BE PAID TO CREDITORS IN PART II

OF THIS PLAN

DATE

I certify, to the best of my knowledge, that the information contained in this Debt Settlement Plan is true, correct and complete.

SIGNATURE OF

TREASURER OF

COMMITTEE

FEC I.D. NUMBER

FEC FORM 8 (Revised 1/2001)

FE1AN061 .PDF

Freedom Party State Committee

111 Politics St.

City, ST, 00000 C00300001

04/01/05 775.00

175.00

950.00

257.68

1,586.74

1,139.29

2

1

748.08

558.00

X

X

X

X

When we receive notification that the FEC has reviewed the debt settlement plan, we will immediately

pay the settlement amount, pay any other debts and file a termination report.

04/10/05

y
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

105 Chapter 15

Reporting Debts Undergoing 

Settlement

General Rule

Debts undergoing settlement must be continuously reported until the Commission has completed its review of the committee’s debt settlement 

plan. The committee may fi le a termination report 

once all debts have been paid, settled, forgiven 

or otherwise extinguished. Payments to creditors should be disclosed on this report. 116.4(f), 

116.5(e) and 116.6(c).

Disputed Debts

A disputed debt is a bona fi de 

disagreement between the creditor and the committee as to the 

existence of a debt or the amount 

owed by the committee. 116.1(d). 

See page 81 for information on 

how to report a disputed debt on 

Schedule D.

When fi ling a debt settlement 

plan, a terminating committee must 

describe any disputed debts and 

the committee’s efforts to resolve 

them on Part II of Form 8. 116.10. 

Disclosure of a disputed debt does 

not constitute an admission of liability or a waiver of any claims the 

committee may have against the 

creditor. 116.10(a).

Unpayable Debts

Both terminating and ongoing 

committees may obtain a determination from the Commission that 

a debt is unpayable for purposes 

of the Act because the creditor 

cannot be located or has gone 

out of business. The committee 

must demonstrate that it made 

the necessary efforts to locate 

the creditor and must continue to 

report the debt until the Commission determines that the debt is 

unpayable. 116.9.

3. Committees with 

Outstanding Debts: 

Administrative 

Termination

An inactive committee that wants to terminate but 

still has outstanding debts must make efforts to 

settle the debts under the procedures described 

above. If debt settlement efforts fail, however, 

such a committee may seek administrative termination by the FEC. (The Commission may also, 

at its own initiative, administratively terminate a 

committee’s reporting status.)

DEBT SETTLEMENT, PART II

DEBT SETTLEMENT PLAN PART II

NAME OF COMMITTEE FEC I.D. NUMBER PAGE OF

AMOUNT

OFFERED IN

SETTLEMENT

AMOUNT OWED

TO CREDITOR

FULL NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS OF CREDITOR DATE INCURRED

CREDITOR SUMMARY INFORMATION

(FILL OUT FOR EACH CREDITOR IN PLAN)

DATE

As a representative of the creditor I hereby accept the settlement offer made to me by the committee and upon payment agree to consider

the debt satisfied (or attach a co

SIGNATURE OF

CREDITOR OR

REPRESENTATIVE

INCORPORATED

COMMERCIAL VENDOR

UNINCORPORATED

COMMERCIAL VENDOR CANDIDATE COMMITTEE EMPLOYEE OTHER INDIVIDUAL

TYPE OF CREDITOR:

E. ARE THE TERMS OF THE DEBT SETTLEMENT COMPARABLE TO OTHER SETTLEMENTS MADE BY THE CREDITOR WITH OTHER NONPOLITICAL DEBTORS?

YES NO IF NO, PLEASE EXPLAIN

D. WAS THE EFFORT MADE BY THE CREDITOR TO COLLECT THE DEBT SIMILAR TO OTHER DEBT COLLECTION EFFORTS AGAINST NONPOLITICAL DEBTORS?

YES NO IF NO, PLEASE EXPLAIN

CREDITOR SECTION

(TO BE FILLED OUT BY CREDITOR)

C. STEPS TAKEN BY THE CREDITOR TO COLLECT THE DEBT

B. EFFORTS MADE BY THE COMMITTEE TO PAY THE DEBT

A. TERMS OF THE INITIAL EXTENSION OF CREDIT AND NATURE OF THE DEBT

FE1AN061.PDF

Freedom Party State Committee C00300001 2 3

Lessor Campaign Services

111 Usury St.

City, ST, 00000 10/02/03 748.08 558.00

X

Debt was incurred for production of radio advertisements. Half of total owed was to be paid up front

with the balance due after the general election.

The committee has attempted to raise additional funds, but its contributor base has eroded.

Creditor sent bills 10, 30 and 60 days after services were rendered, following its normal practice. They

filed suit in superior court on February 15, 2005, seeking the total unpaid balance.

X

X

04/10/05

tor, I hereby accep

opy of the signed settlement).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

106 Chapter 15

spect to any outstanding debts, the committee’s 

request should describe:

• The terms and conditions of the initial extension 

of credit;

• Steps taken by the committee to repay the debt; 

and

• Efforts made by the creditors to obtain 

payment.

Requests should be addressed to the Commission’s Reports Analysis Division.

Once the Commission completes its review of 

the request, the committee will be sent a written notifi cation of the Commission’s approval or 

disapproval. Committees must continue to fi le 

regular reports until the request for administrative termination has been approved. For more 

information, see FEC Directive 45. 2 Directives may be ordered from the FEC’s Public Records 

Offi ce. (Call 800/424-9530 and press 2.)

Criteria for 

Administrative 

Termination

When determining a committee’s 

eligibility for administrative 

termination, the Commission will 

consider the following factors:

• The committee is not involved 

in any matter before the 

Commission (such as a MUR, an 

audit or an Administrative Fine 

case).

• The committee’s aggregate 

reported fi nancial activity in one 

year is less than $5,000.

• The committee’s reports disclose 

no receipt of contributions for 

the previous year.

• The committee’s last report 

disclosed minimal expenditures.

• The committee’s primary purpose 

for fi ling its reports has been to 

disclose outstanding debts and 

obligations.

• The committee has failed to fi le 

reports for the previous year.

• The committee’s last report 

disclosed that the debts owed 

to the committee were not 

substantial.

• The committee’s outstanding 

debts and obligations do not 

appear to present a possible 

violation of the Act’s contribution 

prohibitions and limitations.

• The committee’s outstanding debts and 

obligations exceed the total of the committee’s 

reported cash-on-hand balance. 102.4(a) and 

FEC Directive 45.2 

Procedures for Requesting 

Administrative Termination

When requesting administrative termination, 

the committee’s treasurer should set forth the 

committee’s eligibility in writing, based on the factors listed above. 102.4(b). In addition, with reDEBT SETTLEMENT PLAN PART III

NAME OF COMMITTEE FEC I.D. NUMBER PAGE OF

A. FULL NAME, MAILING ADDRESS AND ZIP CODE OF CREDITOR AMOUNT EXPECTED

TO PAY/OFFER

AMOUNT OWED

TO CREDITOR

B. FULL NAME, MAILING ADDRESS AND ZIP CODE OF CREDITOR AMOUNT EXPECTED

TO PAY/OFFER

AMOUNT OWED

TO CREDITOR

C. FULL NAME, MAILING ADDRESS AND ZIP CODE OF CREDITOR AMOUNT EXPECTED

TO PAY/OFFER

AMOUNT OWED

TO CREDITOR

D. FULL NAME, MAILING ADDRESS AND ZIP CODE OF CREDITOR AMOUNT EXPECTED

TO PAY/OFFER

AMOUNT OWED

TO CREDITOR

DOES THE COMMITTEE HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PAY THE REMAINING AMOUNTS TO BE PAID OR OFFERED?

YES NO IF NO, WHAT STEPS WILL BE TAKEN TO OBTAIN THE FUNDS?

E. FULL NAME, MAILING ADDRESS AND ZIP CODE OF CREDITOR AMOUNT EXPECTED

TO PAY/OFFER

AMOUNT OWED

TO CREDITOR

TYPE OF CREDITOR: INCORPORATED UNINCORPORATED CANDIDATE

COMMERCIAL VENDOR COMMERCIAL VENDOR

COMMITTEE EMPLOYEE OTHER INDIVIDUAL

IS THIS A DISPUTED DEBT? YES NO

TYPE OF CREDITOR: INCORPORATED UNINCORPORATED CANDIDATE

COMMERCIAL VENDOR COMMERCIAL VENDOR

COMMITTEE EMPLOYEE OTHER INDIVIDUAL

IS THIS A DISPUTED DEBT? YES NO

TYPE OF CREDITOR: INCORPORATED UNINCORPORATED CANDIDATE

COMMERCIAL VENDOR COMMERCIAL VENDOR

COMMITTEE EMPLOYEE OTHER INDIVIDUAL

IS THIS A DISPUTED DEBT? YES NO

TYPE OF CREDITOR: INCORPORATED UNINCORPORATED CANDIDATE

COMMERCIAL VENDOR COMMERCIAL VENDOR

COMMITTEE EMPLOYEE OTHER INDIVIDUAL

IS THIS A DISPUTED DEBT? YES NO

TYPE OF CREDITOR: INCORPORATED UNINCORPORATED CANDIDATE

COMMERCIAL VENDOR COMMERCIAL VENDOR

COMMITTEE EMPLOYEE OTHER INDIVIDUAL

IS THIS A DISPUTED DEBT? YES NO

LIST REMAINING DEBTS

FE1AN061 .PDF

Freedom Party State Committee C00300001 3 3

Shylock National Bank

111 Lender St.

City, ST, 00000

X

X

X

391.21 391.21

(Final payment on Bank

loan)

DEBT SETTLEMENT, PART III
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

107 Appendix

Appendix A 

Nonmajor Political 

Parties

This appendix has been written for groups that 

have formed a minor political party or that want 

to start one. Federal law confers benefi ts on party 

committees at the local, state and national levels, 

but only groups meeting specifi c criteria may take 

advantage of those benefi ts.

1. Benefi ts of Political Party 

Status

Party committees are entitled to spend more 

money in coordinated support of their candidates 

for federal offi ce than other political groups.

• In addition to making contributions, local party 

committees may spend unlimited amounts for 

certain candidate-support activities called 

exempt party activities (see page 38).

• State party committees may also pay for 

unlimited exempt party activities. Additionally, 

state party committees may spend limited—but 

substantial—amounts on coordinated party 

expenditures to support their U.S. House and 

Senate candidates in the general election (see 

page 34). Coordinated party expenditures do 

not count against the contribution limits.

• While national committees are not entitled to 

the exempt party activities benefi t, they have 

other advantages. They can make coordinated 

party expenditures on behalf of House, Senate 

and Presidential nominees. Moreover, they enjoy 

higher limits on the contributions they raise 

than other committees.1

Any organization that wants to become a political party should keep in mind unique regulations. 

First, national party committees may not accept 

or direct any funds outside the limits and prohibitions of federal law. See Chapter 1, sections 3 

1 With respect to public funding benefi ts, a national committee of a minor party may receive some federal funding 

for the party’s Presidential nominating convention if, in 

the preceding general election, the party’s Presidential 

candidate received at least fi ve percent of the popular vote. 

11 CFR 9008.

and 4. Second, certain activity by state, district 

and local committees, termed federal election 

activity, is uniquely regulated. See Chapters 8 and 

14. Third, party committees are restricted in how 

they may support certain tax exempt organizations. See Chapter 3, section 4.

2. Qualifying as Political 

Party

The benefi ts of political party status apply only 

to organizations that qualify as political parties.

Federal Law

The federal campaign fi nance law defi nes “political party” as a committee or organization whose 

nominated or selected candidates for federal 

offi ce appear on the ballot as the party’s candidates. 100.15. However, ballot access is governed 

by state law.

State Law

The laws in each state determine when a political organization qualifi es as a “political party” 

entitled to have its candidates’ names appear 

as party-designated candidates on the general 

election ballot. While the laws differ from state to 

state, they generally all require a nonmajor party 

to demonstrate suffi cient voter support—such as 

by fi ling a petition for party recognition signed 

by a representative number of voters—in order 

to qualify for ballot access in the general election. 

Moreover, the party must receive a suffi cient number of votes in the election in order to sustain its 

qualifi ed status.

In nearly all states, a party can achieve limited 

recognition as a political party for a specifi c 

general election by being named as the organization represented by the candidate in his or her 

nominating petition.

Contact the Secretary of State’s offi ce (or 

equivalent offi ce) in each state for specifi c information on achieving political party status under 

state law.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

108 Appendix

3. Qualifying as National 

Committee

Federal law defi nes a national committee as an 

organization which, by virtue of the bylaws of a 

political party, is responsible for the day-to-day 

operation of the party at the national level, as 

determined by the Commission. 100.13.

A committee should seek an FEC advisory 

opinion opinion to verify that it has attained national to verify that it has attained national 

committee status before taking advantage of the 

expanded contribution and expenditure limits 

that apply to a qualifi ed national committee. The 

Commission will decide whether the committee or 

the party has demonstrated suffi cient nationallevel activity to qualify, based on the criteria listed 

below. See AOs 2001-13, 1998-2, and 1995-16.

Nominating Candidates for 

Federal Offi ce in Numerous States

The party must have a suffi cient number of partydesignated federal candidates on the ballot in a 

suffi cient number of states to meet this requirement. Moreover, the party’s ballot access efforts 

must extend beyond the Presidential races to 

races for the U.S. Congress. See AOs 1988-45 

and 1980-131 and those cited below.

For example, in the 1992 elections, a party’s 

Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates 

achieved ballot access in several states, but the 

party’s ballot access activity with respect to 

candidates for U.S. Congress—9 candidates in 3 

states—was considered too limited to meet this 

criterion. AO 1992-44. The same party, in the 

1994 election cycle, expanded its efforts, achieving ballot access for 14 Congressional candidates 

in 6 states located in different sections of the 

country. This was considered suffi cient activity to 

meet the ballot access requirement. AO 1995-16. 

See also AO 1992-30.

Conducting Activities on Ongoing 

Basis

The committee must engage in activities such 

as voter registration drives on an ongoing basis 

(rather than with respect to a particular election). 

See, for example, AO 1992-30.

Publicizing Issues Nationwide

A national committee must publicize, on a national basis, issues of importance to the party and 

its adherents. This activity might involve publishing the party’s philosophy and positions, issuing 

press releases and distributing a national newsletter. See, for example, AO 1992-44.

Other Criteria

Other factors which indicate that a party committee has attained national status include: holding a 

national convention; setting up national headquarters; and establishing state party committees. 

See, for example, AO 1992-30.

4. Qualifying as State Party 

Committee

A state party committee is the organization that 

by virtue of the bylaws of a political party or by 

the operation of state law is part of the offi cial 

party structure and is responsible for the dayto-day operation of a political party at the state 

level by virtue of the party’s bylaws, including 

any entity established, maintained, fi nanced or 

controlled by the organization. 100.14(a).

Whether an organization qualifi es as a state 

party committee is determined by the Commission. Committees desiring such a determination 

should submit an advisory opinion request to the 

Commission. 

In AOs 2002-10, 1996-27, 1995-49 and 

1992-30, the Commission said that two requirements must be met in order for a committee to 

qualify as a state party committee.

• First, the relationship between the political 

party and the committee must be based on 

an agreement that requires the committee 

to perform activities commensurate with the 

day-to-day operation of the party on a state 

level (such as raising contributions; assisting 

candidates’ fundraising efforts; conducting voter 

registration drives; holding state conventions; 

and nominating candidates for state and federal 

offi ce).

• Second, the committee must achieve ballot 

access for the party’s Presidential candidate and 

other federal candidates running in the state.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

109 Appendix

Appendix B

Joint Fundraising

1. Introduction

What Is Joint Fundraising

Joint fundraising is fundraising conducted jointly by 

a political committee and one or more other political 

committees or unregistered organizations.

Who Must Observe Joint 

Fundraising Rules

The rules described in this appendix apply to 

political committees and unregistered organizations 

engaged in joint fundraising. The participants in 

joint fundraising activity may include party committees, party organizations not registered as political 

committees, federal and nonfederal candidate committees, nonparty political committees (e.g., federal 

PACs) and unregistered nonparty organizations (e.g., 

nonfederal PACs).1 102.17(a)(1)(i) and (a)(2).

Overview of Rules

All participants in a joint fundraising effort, including 

unregistered organizations, must:

• Create or select a political committee to act as the 

fundraising representative;

• Agree to a formula for allocating proceeds and 

expenses;

• Sign a written agreement naming the fundraising 

representative and stating the allocation formula;

• Establish a separate account for joint fundraising 

receipts and disbursements;

• Notify the public of the allocation formula and 

certain other information (detailed below) when 

soliciting contributions;

• Screen contributions to make sure they comply 

with the limits and prohibitions of the Federal 

Election Campaign Act; and

1 The joint fundraising rules do not, however, apply to 

fundraising by collecting agents and separate segregated 

funds. (A collecting agent is an organization that solicits 

and collects contributions for a separate segregated fund.) 

102.17(a)(3). See 102.6(b).

5. Qualifying as District or 

Local Party Committee 

or Subordinate 

Committee

A district or local party committee is the organization that by virtue of the bylaws of a political 

party or by the operation of state law is part of 

the offi cial party structure. It is responsible for 

the day-to-day operation of a political party at 

the level of city, county, neighborhood, ward, district, precinct or any other subdivision of a state. 

100.14(b).

A subordinate committee is a committee that 

operates in any subdivision of a state or is an 

organization under the control or direction of 

a state committee and is directly or indirectly 

established, fi nanced, directed or controlled by a 

state, district or local committee. 100.14(c).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

110 Appendix

• Report allocated proceeds and expenses 

(applies to political committees only).

The committee named as the fundraising 

representative has additional responsibilities, as 

explained below.

2. Restrictions

Participation in a joint fundraiser does not exempt 

any participants from any restrictions on their 

ability to raise funds outside the limits and prohibitions of federal law. 102.17(a).

Soft Money Ban

National party committees may not participate 

in any joint fundraiser where nonfederal or Levin 

funds are raised.

Federal Candidate Fundraising

Federal candidates and national party committees 

may not raise funds outside the limits and prohibitions of federal law. This ban limits their ability 

to participate in joint fundraisers with organizations that can raise nonfederal funds. 300.10, 

300.61 and 300.62. 

Levin Fundraising

State and local party committees may not raise 

Levin funds through joint fundraising activity with 

any other state or local party committee. This 

prohibition applies to committees in different 

states as well. However, state and local party committees may jointly raise funds which are not used 

for federal election activity. 300.31(f).

3. Fundraising 

Representative

Joint fundraising participants must either establish a new political committee (using a Statement 

of Organization, FEC Form 1) or select a participating political committee to act as the fundraising representative. This committee is responsible 

for: collecting and depositing joint fundraising 

contributions; paying expenses; allocating proceeds and expenses to each participant; keeping 

records; and reporting overall joint fundraising 

activity. Any federal candidate participating in the 

fundraiser must designate the fundraising representative as an authorized candidate committee 

(using a Statement of Candidacy, FEC Form 2). 

102.17(a)(1)(i), (b)(1) and (b)(2).

New Committee

If a new committee is established, it collects all 

the contributions. 102.17(b)(1). Note that a new 

committee may not itself be a participant in any 

other joint fundraising effort, though it may conduct more than one event or activity on behalf of 

the participants. 102.17(a)(1)(i).

Participating Committee

If a participating committee acts as a fundraising representative, the other participants may 

also collect contributions, but they must forward 

them to the fundraising representative as required 

under 102.8 of FEC regulations. 102.17(b)(2).

Commercial Firm

Although participants may hire a commercial 

fundraising fi rm or other type of agent to assist 

the joint fundraiser, they are still required to 

establish or select a fundraising representative. 

102.17(a)(1)(ii).

4. Written Agreement

Before conducting a joint fundraiser, all participants must enter into a written agreement that 

identifi es the fundraising representative and 

states the allocation formula—the percentages 

or amounts used to allocate joint fundraising 

proceeds and expenses among participants. The 

fundraising representative must retain a copy of 

the written agreement for three years and make it 

available to the FEC upon request. 102.17(c)(1).

5. Separate Depository

Establishing the Account

Joint fundraising participants must establish a 

separate account for the receipt and disbursement of all joint fundraising proceeds. Each 

participating political committee must amend 

its Statement of Organization (FEC Form 1) to 

show the account as an additional depository. 

102.17(c)(3)(i).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

111 Appendix

Depositing Contributions

The fundraising representative must deposit contributions into the account within 10 days after 

receiving them. Only contributions permissible 

under the Federal Election Campaign Act (the 

Act) may be deposited in the joint fundraising account. If any participant is an unregistered organization which may, under State law, accept prohibited contributions, the participants may either 

establish a second account for such contributions 

or forward them directly to the participants that 

may accept them. 102.17(c)(3)(i) and (ii).

6. Statements of 

Organization

Joint Fundraising Representatives

If the joint fundraising committee is a new committee, it must fi le a Statement of Organization 

(FEC Form 1). If, on the other hand, the representative is an existing committee, it must amend its 

Statement of Organization. In either instance, the 

Statement of Organization must:

• Identify the committee as the joint fundraising 

representative (check box 5(f));

• List the names and addresses of all federal 

committees participating in the joint fundraising 

effort in box 6; and

• Name the depository institution being used by 

the joint fundraising committee. In the case of 

a representative which is an existing committee, 

the depository is named only if it is different 

from the depository named on the committee’s 

current Statement of Organization.

Other Joint Fundraising 

Participants

Committees (other than the joint fundraising 

representative) that are participating in the joint 

fundraising effort must amend their Statements 

of Organization (FEC Form 1). On the form the 

committees must:

• Provide the name and address of the Joint 

Fundraising Representative and identify it as the 

“JFR”; and

• State the name and address of the depository 

institution holding the joint fundraising account, 

if it is different from the depository named on 

their current Statements of Organization.

7. Start-Up Costs

Participants may advance funds to the fundraising 

representative for start-up costs of the fundraiser. 

The amount advanced by a participant should 

be in proportion to the agreed upon allocation 

formula. Any amount advanced in excess of a 

participant’s proportionate share is considered 

a contribution and must not exceed the amount 

the participant may contribute to the other 

participants. 102.17(b)(3)(i) and (ii). (However, 

an exception is made for party committees; see 

Section 13.)

Example

Committees A, B and C determine they need 

$2,000 in start-up costs. According to their allocation formula (Committees A and B, 25 percent 

each; Committee C, 50 percent), Committees A 

and B each advance $500 to the fundraising representative, and Committee C, $1,000. If, however, Committee C advances the entire $2,000, 

it has made a $500 contribution to each of the 

other committees.

Unregistered Organizations

An unregistered organization must use funds that 

are permissible under the Act when advancing 

money for start-up costs. 102.17(c)(3)(i). If an 

unregistered participant advances more than its 

share of start-up costs and thus makes a contribution, the contributed amount may trigger 

registration and reporting requirements under the 

Act. 100.5(a)–(d).

8. Joint Fundraising Notice

General Rule

In addition to any notice required under “Disclaimer Notices on Communications” (page 48) 

and “Solicitation Notices” (page 17), participants 

must include a joint fundraising notice with every 

solicitation for contributions. The notice must 

contain the following information:

• The names of all participants, regardless of 

whether they are registered political committees 

or unregistered organizations;

• The allocation formula;
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

112 Appendix

• A statement informing contributors that they 

may designate contributions for a particular 

participant; and

• A statement that the allocation formula may 

change if any contributor makes a contribution 

that exceeds the amount he or she may lawfully 

give to any participant. 102.17(c)(2)(i).

Special Situations

In two situations, participants must include additional information in the joint fundraising notice:

• If a participant is engaging in the joint 

fundraiser to pay off outstanding debts, the 

notice must state that the allocation formula 

may change if the participant receives enough 

funds to pay its debts.

• If, under State law, any unregistered participant 

is permitted to receive contributions prohibited 

under the Act, the notice must say that such 

contributions will be given only to participants 

that may legally accept them. 102.17(c)(2)(ii).

9. Screening Contributions

The fundraising representative and participants 

must screen all contributions to make sure they 

are neither prohibited by the Act nor in excess of 

the Act’s contribution limits. (Any prohibited contributions must be allocated to any unregistered 

participants in compliance with applicable state 

law.) The maximum amount a contributor may 

give to a joint fundraiser is the total amount he 

or she may contribute to all participants without 

exceeding any limits.

To facilitate screening, participants must provide the fundraising representative with records 

of past contributions so that the representative 

can determine whether a donor has exceeded the 

contribution limits. 102.17(c)(4)(i) and (c)(5).

10. Recordkeeping

Receipts

With regard to gross proceeds, the fundraising 

representative must collect the following contributor information and later forward it to the 

participating political committees:

• For contributions exceeding $50: the amount, 

date of receipt and the contributor’s name and 

address.

• For contributions exceeding $200: the amount, 

date of receipt and the contributor’s name, 

address, occupation and employer. 102.8(a) 

and (b); 102.17(c)(4)(ii).

The date of receipt is the date the fundraising representative receives the contribution. 

102.17(c)(3)(iii).

Prohibited Contributions

The fundraising representative must also keep a 

record of the total amount of prohibited contributions received, if any, and of any transfers 

containing prohibited funds made to participants 

that may accept them. 102.17(c)(4)(ii).

Disbursements

The fundraising representative must retain, for 

three years, records on all disbursements made 

for the joint fundraiser. The required recordkeeping information is described on page 50. If a commercial fundraising fi rm or agent is used, it must 

forward required records on disbursements to the 

fundraising representative. 102.17(c)(4)(iii).

11. Allocating Gross 

Proceeds

The fundraising representative may make payments for fundraising expenses from gross proceeds collected at the fundraiser (and from funds 

advanced by the participants). 102.17(c)(7)(iii). 

Nevertheless, it must allocate (but not transfer) 

gross proceeds among the participants.

Generally, the fundraising representative must 

allocate gross proceeds according to the allocation formula. However, the formula may change if 

the allocation results in:

• An excessive contribution from a contributor to 

one of the participating committees; or

• A surplus for a participant raising money solely 

to pay off campaign debts.

Reallocation under these circumstances must 

be based on the other participants’ proportionate shares under the allocation formula. If reallocation results in a contributor’s exceeding contribution limits for the remaining participants, the 

fundraising representative must return the excess 

amount to the contributor. 102.17(c)(6)(i).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

113 Appendix

Example

Using the same example mentioned above (allocation formula: Committees A and B, 25 percent 

each; Committee C, 50 percent), the participants 

receive a $2,000 contribution from a donor 

who had previously contributed up to his limit 

to Committee C. If the fundraising representative 

were to divide the contribution according to the 

allocation formula, Committee C would receive 

an excessive contribution of $1,000. Instead, 

the excess $1,000 is divided equally between 

Committees A and B, since their proportionate 

shares under the allocation formula are equal. 

Each receives an extra $500, bringing their total 

allocation to $1,000 apiece.

If, however, Committee A can accept only $800 

from the contributor without exceeding the limit, 

the excess $200 is allocated to Committee B. If 

Committee B cannot accept the money for the 

same reason, the $200 must be returned to the 

contributor.

Designated Contributions

Designated or earmarked contributions which exceed the contributor’s limit for a participant may 

not be reallocated without the written consent of 

the contributor. 102.17(c)(6)(ii).

Prohibited Contributions

Prohibited contributions must be distributed 

only to the unregistered participants that may 

lawfully accept them; they do not have to be 

distributed according to the allocation formula. 

102.17(c)(6)(iii).

12. Allocating Expenses

After gross proceeds are allocated, the joint fundraising representative must calculate each participant’s share of expenses based on its actual share 

of gross proceeds. (Prohibited contributions 

may be excluded from the gross proceeds when 

making this calculation.) 102.17(c)(7)(i)(A). (An 

exception is made for party committees; see below.) The fi nal allocation formula may differ from 

the original formula if receipts had to be reallocated—see example below.

Expenses for a series of fundraising events 

must be allocated on a per-event basis. 

102.17(c)(7)(i)(C).

Example

At the start of the fundraiser, Committees A, B 

and C agree to allocate 25 percent of proceeds 

and expenses to Committee A, 25 percent to 

Committee B and 50 percent to Committee C. 

However, because the fundraising representative 

must reallocate some contributions, Committee A is actually allocated 20 percent of gross 

proceeds; Committee B, 35 percent; and Committee C, 45 percent. The fundraising representative must allocate the joint fundraising expenses, 

$10,000, on the same basis: $2,000 to Committee A, $3,500 to Committee B and $4,500 to 

Committee C.

Excess Payment

If a participant pays for more than its allocated 

share of expenses, the excess payment is considered a contribution, subject to the Act’s limits 

(see “Start-Up Costs” earlier in this appendix). 

102.17(c)(7)(i)(B). (Party committees are excepted from this rule; as explained earlier.)

Remember, if an unregistered participant makes 

such a contribution, the payment may trigger 

registration and reporting requirements for that 

organization. 100.5(a)–(d).

13. Calculating Net 

Proceeds

The fundraising representative may delay transferring net proceeds to participants until after it 

receives all contributions and pays all expenses 

for the fundraiser. To determine net proceeds, the 

fundraising representative subtracts the participant’s share of expenses from its share of gross 

proceeds. 102.17(c)(3)(ii) and (c)(7)(i)(A).

For example, Committees A, B and C raise 

$50,000 in gross proceeds and spend $10,000 

in expenses, leaving $40,000 in net proceeds. 

The fundraising representative allocates $10,000 

(20 percent) in gross proceeds to Committee A 

and $2,000 (20 percent) in expenses; Committee A’s net proceeds equal $8,000.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

114 Appendix

14. Reporting

Fundraising Representative

The fundraising representative reports all joint 

fundraising proceeds in the reporting period in 

which they are received. If any prohibited contributions are received for an unregistered organization, the fundraising representative must report 

them as memo entries. Each Schedule A used 

to itemize contributions must clearly indicate 

that the receipts are joint fundraising proceeds. 

102.17(c)(3)(iii) and (c)(8)(i)(A).

The fundraising representative must also report 

all disbursements made for the joint fundraiser 

in the reporting period in which they are made. 

102.17(c)(8)(ii).

Participants

After the fundraising representative distributes 

the net proceeds, each participating political 

committee reports its share as a transfer-in from 

the fundraising representative. Using the records 

received from the fundraising representative, a 

participating committee itemizes its share of gross 

receipts as contributions from the original donors 

(to the extent required by the rules on itemization—see page 62) on memo entry Schedules 

A . When itemizing gross contributions, the 

participant must report the date of receipt as the 

day the fundraising representative received the 

contribution. 102.17(c)(3)(iii); (c)(8)(i)(B).

Note that, if the fundraising representative 

is one of the participating committees (rather 

than a committee established solely for the joint 

fundraiser), it must report its own share of gross 

receipts in addition to reporting total fundraising 

proceeds.

15. Exception for Party 

Committees and 

Organizations2

Payments made by a party committee (that is, a 

political committee) on behalf of another party 

committee are considered transfers of funds 

rather than contributions. Because there is no 

limit on transfers between party committees of 

the same political party, a party committee may 

pay any amount of another party committee’s 

allocated start-up costs and fundraising expenses. 

Moreover, if all the participants in the fundraiser 

are party committees, start-up costs and fundraising expenses need not be allocated at all. 

102.6(a)(1)(ii); 102.17(b)(3)(iii) and (c)(7)(ii).

The same exception also applies to party 

organizations (that is, unregistered party groups). 

They must use funds permissible under the Act 

when making payments for start-up costs and 

fundraising expenses. Furthermore, such payments by a party organization on behalf of a 

registered party committee count against the 

$1,000 contribution/expenditure threshold for 

registration as a political committee. (See Chapter 

1.) 100.5(a) and (b); 102.6(a)(1)(iv) and (a)(2); 

102.17(c)(7)(ii).

2 This section also applies to nonparty committees and 

organizations that are affi liated. (See Appendix G for the 

defi nition of “affi liated committee.”)
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

115 Appendix

1 See the Contribution Limits chart on page 27.

Appendix C 

Partnership 

Contributions

Outlined below are special rules concerning contributions from partnerships to party committees.

1. Contribution Limits

Contributions Made by 

Partnership

A partnership may make contributions aggregating up to $10,000 per calendar year to 

the state, district or local party committees of a 

particular state party and up to $25,000 to a 

national party committee. In addition, a contribution from a partnership counts proportionately 

against each participating partner’s own limit with 

respect to the same committee.1 110.1(c) and (e).

Contributions Made by 

Individual Partners

Each partner may make contributions aggregating 

up to $10,000 per calendar year to a party committee. 110.1(c). Although contributions made by 

the partnership as a whole count proportionately 

against each participating partner’s $10,000 

limit, contributions made by individual partners 

from their own funds do not count against the 

partnership’s limit. 110.1(e).

Limited Liability Companies

In some cases, limited liability companies (LLCs) 

are treated as partnerships. For the purposes of 

contribution limitations and prohibitions, an LLC 

is treated as a partnership if:

• It does not have publicly traded shares; and

• It has chosen to fi le, under IRS rules, as a 

partnership; or

• It has made no choice, under IRS rules, as to 

whether it is a corporation or a partnership. 

110.1(g)(2) and (3)

Under these conditions, this appendix would 

apply to those LLCs.

2. Attribution Among 

Partners

Formula

A portion of the partnership contribution must 

be attributed to each contributing partner. If all 

partners within the organization are contributing, 

the partnership may attribute the contribution 

according to each partner’s share of the fi rm’s 

profi ts. However, if the partnership attributes a 

contribution on another basis agreed to by the 

partners, or if it attributes contributions only 

to certain partners, the following rules must be 

observed:

• The contributing partners’ profi ts must be 

reduced (or their losses increased) by the 

amount of the contribution attributed to them; 

and

• The profi ts (or losses) of only the contributing 

partners must be affected.

The portion attributed to each partner must 

not exceed the individual partner’s contribution 

limit. 110.1(e). See also “Partnerships with Corporate Members,” below.

Notice to Recipient Committee

Because a contribution from a partnership is a 

joint contribution, joint contribution, the partnership must pro- the partnership must provide to the recipient committee, along with the 

contribution, a written notice listing the names 

of the contributing partners and the amount to 

be attributed to each. However, unlike other joint 

contributions, the signature of each contributing 

partner is not required. 110.1(k)(1).

3. Prohibited Partnership 

Contributions

Partnerships with Corporate 

Members

Because contributions from corporations are 

prohibited, a partnership with corporate members 

may not attribute any portion of a contribution 

to the corporate partners. 110.1(e) and 114.2(b). 

A partnership composed solely of corporate 

partners may not make any contributions. AO 

1981-56.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

116 Appendix

Partnerships with 

Foreign National 

Members

Because contributions from foreign 

nationals are prohibited, a partnership may not attribute any portion 

of a contribution to a partner who 

is a foreign national. 110.20. (See 

page 12 for further information on 

the foreign national prohibition.)

Partnerships with 

Federal Government 

Contracts

A partnership which is negotiating 

a contract with the federal government or which has not completed 

performance of such a contract 

is prohibited from making contributions. However, an individual 

partner in such a fi rm may make 

contributions from personal funds 

(rather than from funds drawn on 

the partnership’s account). 115.4. 

See also AO 1991-1.

Also, an individual partner who is 

a federal contractor may not make 

contributions using any funds 

(business or personal) under his 

control. 115.5.

4. Contributions 

from Professional 

Corporations

Although law fi rms, doctors’ practices and similar 

groups are often organized as partnerships, some 

of these groups may instead be professional 

corporations. Unlike a partnership, a professional 

corporation is prohibited from making any contributions because contributions from corporations 

are unlawful. 114.2(b).

5. Reporting Partnership 

Contributions

Included in Total Figure

Partnership contributions are included in the total 

fi gure reported for “contributions from individuals/persons other than political committees” on 

the Detailed Summary Page of Form 3X.

Itemization

If a partnership contribution exceeds $200 or 

aggregates over $200 during a calendar year, the 

committee must itemize the contribution on a 

Schedule A used for “Contributions from Individuals/Persons Other Than Political Committees” 

(Line 11a(i)).

FE3AN037.PDF

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Aggregate Year-to-Date

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C

C , , .

C , , .

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

M M / D D / Y Y Y Y

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SCHEDULE A (FEC Form 3X)

ITEMIZED RECEIPTS

Any information copied from such Reports and Statements may not be sold or used by any person for the purpose of soliciting contributions

or for commercial purposes, other than using the name and address of any political committee to solicit contributions from such committee.

NAME OF COMMITTEE (In Full)

SUBTOTAL of Receipts This Page (optional) ............................................................................

TOTAL This Period (last page this line number only) ...............................................................

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

A.

FEC Schedule A (Form 3X) Rev. 02/2003

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

B.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

Full Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Mailing Address

City State Zip Code

Receipt For:

Primary General

Other (specify)

Amount of Each Receipt this Period

C.

Aggregate Year-to-Date

Date of Receipt

Name of Employer Occupation

FEC ID number of contributing

federal political committee.

FOR LINE NUMBER: PAGE OF U (check only one) se separate schedule(s)

for each category of the

Detailed Summary Page 11a 11b 11c 12

13 14 15 16 17

Freedom Party State Committee

X

1 1

Wiggly & Dinghy LLC

111 Eskimo Ave.

City ST 00000

08 04 2004

Partnership

500.00

500.00

Wiggly, John

201 Dockside Ave.

City ST 00000

City ST 00000

Wiggly & Dinghy LLC

Wiggly & Dinghy LLC

Attorney

Attorney

500.00

500.00

MEMO

MEMO

250.00

250.00

250.00

250.00

08 04 2004

08 04 2004

Dinghy, David

180 Lakeshore Lane

PARTNERSHIP CONTRIBUTION
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

117 Appendix

1 Unlike the rest of the Guide, in this appendix the term 

“committee” refers to unregistered organizations as well as 

“political committees” registered with the FEC.

Appendix D 

National Convention 

Delegates

This appendix explains FEC rules governing the 

fi nancing of delegate selection activity with 

respect to a national nominating convention. 

Much of the information presented here does not 

apply to party committees, particularly the material on expenditures and affi liation. The appendix 

is included because it may be of value to party 

committee staff and other individuals who plan to 

seek selection as delegates.

The Commission also offers a reprint of this 

appendix as a separate handout. To order, call 

800/424-9530.

1. Delegates and Delegate 

Committees

Defi nitions

Delegate

The term “delegate” means an individual who 

is seeking selection as a delegate, or who has 

already been selected as a delegate, at any level 

of the delegate selection process (local, state or 

national). 110.14(b)(1).

Delegate Committee

A “delegate committee”1 is a group that raises or 

spends funds to infl uence the selection of one 

or more delegates. A delegate committee may be 

a group of delegates (defi ned above) or a group 

that supports delegates. 110.14(b)(2).

FEC Reporting

By Registered Delegate Committee

A delegate committee becomes a “political committee” under federal law once it receives contributions or makes expenditures exceeding $1,000 

in a calendar year. 100.5(a) and (e)(5). At that 

point, the committee must register with the FEC 

within 10 days and begin fi ling periodic FEC reAdditionally, if an individual partner’s share of 

the contribution exceeds $200 when combined 

with other contributions received from that 

partner in the same calendar year, the committee 

must disclose, as a memo entry, itemized information on the partner (name, address, occupation, 

date contribution received, partner’s share of 

contribution and aggregate year-to-date total of 

contributions made by that partner). 104.8 and 

110.1(e).

In-Kind Contributions

A committee reports the value of an in-kind 

contribution from a partnership in the same way 

it reports a monetary contribution. In addition, 

as with all in-kind contributions, the committee 

must report the value of the in-kind contribution 

as an operating expenditure. Moreover, an in-kind 

contribution itemized on Schedule A must also be 

itemized on a Schedule B for operating expenditures. 104.13 and 110.1(e). (See page 63.) However, any information about a partner itemized as 

a memo entry on Schedule A does not have to be 

reported on Schedule B.

6. Partnership 

Contribution Plans

In several advisory opinions (AOs), the Commission has said that a partnership may set up 

an internal plan to facilitate contributions from 

individual partners or the partnership as a whole 

to candidates or political committees (other than 

a nonconnected committee sponsored by the 

fi rm—see below). Incidental expenses incurred 

to administer such plans do not trigger a requirement, on the part of the fi rm, to register as a 

political committee. See AOs 1984-18, 1982-13, 

1981-50 and 1980-72 for more information.

7. Partnership PACs

A partnership may form its own political committee (a nonconnected committee) which, in turn, 

may make contributions to a party committee, 

subject to the $10,000 or $25,000 per year 

limit. In this case, any administrative and solicitation costs paid by the partnership on behalf of its 

committee count as in-kind contributions to the 

committee. For more information on PACs sponsored by partnerships, see the Campaign Guide 

for Nonconnected Political Committees.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

118 Appendix

ports on its receipts and disbursements. 102.1(d) 

and 104.1(a). All pre-registration activity must be 

disclosed in the fi rst report. 104.3(a) and (b).

Note that a delegate committee that has triggered status as a federal political committee must 

include the word “delegate” or “delegates” in its 

name. It may also include the name of the Presidential candidate it supports. 102.14(b)(1).

By Individual Delegates and Unregistered 

Delegate Committees

Individual delegates and delegate committees 

that have not qualifi ed as political committees 

under federal law are not required to register or 

fi le regular reports. But, if they make independent 

expenditures exceeding $250, they must disclose 

the expenditures on FEC Form 5. 109.10(b). 

(Independent expenditures are discussed later in 

this appendix.)

2. Funds Raised and Spent 

for Delegate Activity

Funds raised and spent for delegate selection are 

considered “contributions” and “expenditures” 

made for the purpose of infl uencing a federal 

election2 and are therefore subject to the federal 

law’s prohibitions and limits.3 110.14(c)(1).

For example, a delegate must use funds permissible under federal law to pay for travel to attend 

the national convention and related food and 

lodging expenses. AO 1980-64. The next two 

sections discuss contributions and expenditures 

in detail.

3. Contribution 

Prohibitions and Limits

Please note that the prohibitions and limits apply 

to contributions of goods and services (in-kind 

contributions) as well as monetary contributions. 

100.52(c)-(d).

Prohibitions

Individual delegates and delegate committees may 

not accept any contributions from prohibited 

sources. 110.14(c)(2).

The following entities are prohibited from making contributions:

• Banks and other corporations (including 

nonprofi t corporations);

• Labor organizations;

• Foreign nationals, that is, those who are neither 

U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or lawfully admitted 

to the U.S. for permanent residence (“green 

card” holders); and

• Federal government contractors (such as 

partnerships and sole proprietors with federal 

contracts). 110.20; 114.2(a) and (b); 115.2; 

115.4; 115.5.

Limits on Contributions to Delegates

• Contributions to a delegate committee are 

subject to an aggregate limit of $5,000 

per calendar year. 110.1(d) and (m)(2); 

110.14(g)(1).

• Contributions to an individual delegate are not 

subject to any per delegate limit. 110.1(m)(1); 

110.14(d)(1). Note that contributions to a 

delegate from the committee of a Presidential 

candidate receiving public funds count 

against the candidate’s expenditure limits.4

110.14(d)(2).

• Contributions from an individual to a delegate 

or delegate committee count against the 

donor’s biennial limit on total contributions. 

110.5(e); 110.14(d)(1) and (g)(2).

2 A national nominating convention is considered a federal 

election. 100.2(e).

3 Ballot access fees paid by an individual delegate to a political party are not considered contributions or expenditures; 

nor are administrative payments made by a party committee 

(including an unregistered organization) for sponsoring a 

convention or caucus to select delegates. Nevertheless, the 

funds used to pay these expenses are subject to the law’s 

prohibitions . 110.14(c)(1)(i) - (ii) and (c)(2).

4 Presidential primary candidates receiving public funding 

must comply with an overall spending limit and a spending 

limit in each state. 9035.1.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

119 Appendix

6 For purposes of the delegate selection regulations, public 

political advertising means political advertising conveyed 

through broadcasting, newspapers, magazines, billboards, 

direct mail or similar types of general public communication. 110.14(f)(2) and (i)(2). Direct mail means mailings 

by commericial vendors or mailings made from lists not 

developed by the individual delegate or delegate committee. 110.14(f)(4) and (i)(4).

Limits on Contributions Made by 

Delegates to Candidates

When a delegate or delegate committee makes an 

expenditure that benefi ts a Presidential or other 

federal candidate,5 the expenditure may result 

in an in-kind contribution to that candidate (as 

explained under “Dual-Purpose Expenditures for 

Communications,” below). Such contributions—

or anything of value given to the candidate—

count against the contribution limits. 100.52(a).

A delegate or delegate committee may contribute a maximum of $2,000 to a federal candidate, 

per election. 110.1(b)(1). The primary and 

general are considered separate elections but, 

in the case of Presidential candidates, the entire 

primary season is considered only one election. 

110.1(j)(1).

Note that a contribution to a candidate must 

be reported by the candidate’s committee. For 

this reason, when making an in-kind contribution, 

a delegate or delegate committee should notify 

the candidate’s committee of the monetary value. 

Note also that in-kind contributions generally 

count against a publicly funded Presidential 

candidate’s expenditure limits.

4. Expenditures

Expenditures for Delegate 

Selection Only

Expenditures made by delegates and delegate 

committees solely to further their selection are 

not considered contributions to any candidate 

and are not chargeable to a publicly funded 

candidate’s spending limits. This type of expenditure might include, for example:

• A communication which advocates the selection 

of delegates only;

• Travel and subsistence expenses related to the 

delegate selection process and the national 

nominating convention. 110.14(e)(1) and 

(h)(1).

Dual-Purpose Expenditures for 

Communications

An individual delegate or a delegate committee 

may pay for communications that both:

• Advocate the selection of an individual delegate 

or the delegates promoted by the delegate 

committee; and

• Refer to, provide information on, or expressly 

advocate the election or defeat of a Presidential 

candidate (or candidate for any public offi ce). 

110.14(f) and (i).

As explained in more detail below, a portion of a dual-purpose expenditure may have 

to be allocated as an in-kind contribution or an 

independent expenditure on behalf of any federal 

candidate mentioned in the ad.

Moreover, the communication may have to 

include a disclaimer notice (also explained below).

Materials Distributed by Volunteers

Dual-purpose expenditures for campaign materials such as pins, bumper stickers, handbills, brochures, posters and yard signs are not considered 

in-kind contributions on behalf of the federal 

candidate mentioned in the materials as long as 

the materials are used in connection with volunteer activities (i.e., are distributed by volunteers) 

and are not conveyed through public political 

advertising.6 110.14(f)(1) and (i)(1).

Public Ads: In-Kind Contributions

A portion of a dual-purpose expenditure is considered an in-kind contribution to the referenced 

candidate if the communication:

• Is conveyed through public political advertising 

(or is not distributed by volunteers); and

• Is made in cooperation or consultation with, 

or at the request or suggestion of (i.e., is not 

coordinated with), the Presidential candidate 

(or other federal candidate) or the candidate’s 

campaign.

The contribution counts against a publicly 

funded Presidential candidate’s expenditure limits. 

110.14(f)(2)(i) and (i)(2)(i).

5 A federal candidate is a candidate seeking election to the 

Presidency, the Vice Presidency, the U.S. Senate or the U.S. 

House of Representatives. 100.4.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

120 Appendix

Public Ads: Independent Expenditures

A portion of a dual-purpose expenditure for a 

communication that is conveyed through public 

political advertising is considered an independent 

expenditure (rather than an in-kind contribution) 

on behalf of the candidate if the communication:

• Expressly advocates the election (or defeat) of a 

clearly identifi ed candidate; and

• Is not coordinated with the candidate or the 

candidate’s campaign. 109.21.

Independent expenditures are not subject to 

the contribution limits and are not chargeable 

to a publicly funded Presidential candidate’s 

expenditure limits. 110.14(f)(2)(ii) and (i)(2)(ii). 

Note that independent expenditures must carry 

a disclaimer notice (see below). Note also the reporting requirements for individual delegates and 

unregistered delegate committees at the beginning of this appendix.

For more information on independent expenditures, consult 11 CFR Part 109.

Allocation of Dual-Purpose Expenditures

The amount of a dual-purpose expenditure allocated as an in-kind contribution or independent 

expenditure on behalf of a candidate must be in 

proportion to the benefi t the candidate receives, 

based on factors such as the amount of space 

or time devoted to the candidate compared with 

total space or time. 106.1(a)(1).

Expenditures to Reproduce 

Candidate Materials

Expenditures by a delegate or delegate committee to reproduce (in whole or in part) or to 

disseminate materials prepared by a Presidential candidate’s committee (or other federal 

candidate’s committee) are considered in-kind 

contributions to the candidate. Although subject 

to contribution limits, this type of contribution is 

not chargeable to a publicly funded Presidential 

candidate’s spending limits as long as the expenditure was not coordinated with the candidate 

or the candidate’s campaign. 110.14(f)(3) and 

(i)(3). If the materials are conveyed through public political advertising, they may have to include 

a disclaimer notice.

Disclaimer Notices

Any public communication made by a political 

committee – including communications that do 

not expressly advocate the election or defeat of 

a clearly-identifi ed federal candidate or solicit a contribution – must display a disclaimer. 

110.11(a)(1). 

Printed materials must contain a printed box 

that is set apart from the contents in the communication. The disclaimer print in this box must be 

of suffi cient type size to be “clearly readable” by 

the recipient of the communication, and the print 

must have a reasonable degree of color contrast 

between the background and the printed statement. 110.11(c)(2)(i) - (iii).

A disclaimer is not required when it cannot be 

conveniently printed (e.g., pens, bumper stickers, campaign pins, campaign buttons and similar 

small items). 110.11(f).

Authorized by Candidate

If the communication, including any solicitation, is 

authorized by the candidate’s campaign, it must 

display the following notice:

“Paid for by [name of delegate or delegate 

committee] and authorized by [name of candidate’s committee].” 110.11(b)(2).

Not Authorized by Candidate

If the communication, including any solicitation, 

is not authorized by the candidate’s campaign (as 

in the case of independent expenditures), it must 

display the following notice:

“Paid for by [name of delegate or delegate 

committee] and not authorized by any candidate 

or candidate’s committee.” 110.11(b)(3).

Communications not authorized by a candidate 

or his/her campaign committee, including any 

solicitation, must disclose the permanent street 

address, telephone number or web site address 

of the person who paid for the communication. 

110.11(b)(3).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

121 Appendix

5. Affi liation

Delegate committees—including unregistered 

committees—need to determine whether they are 

affi liated with another delegate committee or a 

candidate’s committee because affi liated committees are considered one political committee for 

purposes of the contribution limits—they share 

the same limits on contributions received and 

made. 110.3(a)(l). (There is, however, no limit on 

funds transferred between affi liated committees. 

102.6(a)(1)(i).)

Between Delegate and 

Presidential Committees

Factors Indicating Affiliation

In determining whether a delegate committee 

and a Presidential committee are affi liated, the 

Commission may consider, among other factors, 

whether:

• The Presidential campaign7 played a signifi cant 

role in forming the delegate committee.

• Any delegate associated with a delegate 

committee has been or is on the staff of the 

Presidential committee.

• The committees have overlapping offi cers or 

employees.

• The Presidential committee provides funds or 

goods to the delegate committee in a signifi cant 

amount or on an ongoing basis (not including a 

transfer of joint fundraising proceeds).

• The Presidential campaign suggests or arranges 

for contributions to be made to the delegate 

committee.

• The committees show similar patterns of 

contributions received.

• One committee provides a mailing list to the 

other committee.

• The Presidential campaign provides ongoing 

administrative support to the delegate 

committee.

7 “Campaign” refers to the candidate, his or her authorized 

committee and other persons associated with the committee.

• The Presidential campaign directs or organizes 

the campaign activities of the delegate 

committee.

• The Presidential campaign fi les statements or 

reports on behalf of the delegate committee. 

110.14(j). See also, for example, Advisory 

Opinion 1988-1.

Effect on Expenditure Limits

If a delegate committee is affi liated with the committee of a Presidential candidate receiving public 

funds, all of the delegate committee’s expenditures count against the Presidential candidate’s 

expenditure limits.

Between Delegate Committees

Delegate committees established, fi nanced, 

maintained or controlled by the same person or 

group are affi liated. Factors that indicate affi liation between delegate committees are found at 

100.5(g)(4) of FEC regulations. 110.14((k).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

122 Appendix

Appendix E

Federal and 

Nonfederal Campaign 

Laws

Political parties generally support candidates 

for federal offi ce and for state and local offi ces. 

The laws governing campaign fi nancing in federal 

elections may differ from state and local laws. For 

example, the Federal Election Campaign Act (the 

Act) generally prohibits corporations and labor 

organizations from making contributions to infl uence federal elections, while many states permit 

corporate and labor donations to candidates.

Occasionally the federal and nonfederal laws 

overlap. This appendix explains when federal law 

takes precedence in those situations, and when 

it does not. For more detailed information, order 

the FEC brochure Federal and State Campaign 

Finance Laws, available for free from the FEC (see 

“Introduction”).

1. When Federal Campaign 

Finance Law Takes 

Precedence

Where federal and state campaign fi nance laws 

overlap, the Federal Election Campaign Act (the 

Act) and Commission regulations take precedence with respect to:

• Prohibitions on election-fi nancing activities by 

foreign nationals. 110.20(b);

• Prohibitions on election-fi nancing activities 

by national banks and federally chartered 

corporations. 114.2(a); and

• Laws that pertain to the fi nancing of federal 

elections. 108.7(a).

Foreign Nationals

The Act prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions or expenditures in connection 

with any United States election (federal, state or 

local), either directly or through another person. 

110.20(b). For further information, see page 12.

1 The National Voter Registration Act, a federal law adopted 

in 1993 and known as the “Motor-Voter” Act, requires 

states to implement specifi c voter registration procedures, 

including registration of individuals applying for driver’s 

licenses, registration by mail, and registration at certain 

government agencies.

2 The Ethics Reform Act of 1989 requires personal fi nancial 

disclosure reports from federal candidates.

National Banks and Federally 

Chartered Corporations

The Act also prohibits national banks and corporations organized by authority of any law of 

Congress (for example, federal savings banks) 

from making contributions or expenditures in 

connection with any election—federal, state or 

local. 114.2(a). They may, however, set up separate segregated funds (also called PACs) for this 

purpose. 114.2(a)(1) and (2); AO 1987-14.

(Consult state laws as to the permissibility of 

election-related activity conducted by state-chartered banks.)

Federal Campaign Financing

With respect to the fi nancing of federal elections, 

federal law specifi cally supersedes nonfederal law 

in the following areas:

• The organization and registration of political 

committees supporting federal candidates;

• The disclosure of receipts and expenditures by 

federal candidates and political committees; and

• The limits on contributions and expenditures 

regarding federal candidates and political 

committees. 108.7(a) and (b).

2. When Federal Campaign 

Finance Law Does Not 

Take Precedence

The Act and FEC regulations do not supersede 

nonfederal laws governing the following areas:

• Methods of qualifying candidates and political 

party organizations for the ballot;

• Dates and places of elections;

• Voter registration;1

• Prohibitions on false registration, voting fraud, 

theft of ballots and similar offenses; and

• Candidates’ disclosure of their personal 

fi nances.2 108.7(c).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

123 Appendix

3. Levin Funds

Levin funds are donations from sources ordinarily 

prohibited by federal law but permitted by State 

law. All donations of Levin funds must be lawful 

under the laws of the State in which the committee is organized. 300.31(b).

A state, district or local committee may not 

solicit or accept Levin funds which aggregate 

to more than $10,000 per source in a calendar 

year. If the State in which the committee is organized limits donations to that committee to less 

than $10,000, then the State limit has priority. 

However, if the State permits higher amounts, the 

$10,000 limit still applies. 300.31(d)(1)-(2). 

Similarly, federal law does not prohibit corporate 

or union donations of Levin funds, but if state law 

does, then that ban would apply.

For further information of Levin funds and federal election activity, see chapters 8 and 14.

Appendix F

Other Laws

In addition to complying with the Federal Election Campaign Act, party committees must 

observe laws and rules outside the Commission’s 

jurisdiction.

1. Ballot Access Laws

The process by which candidates and political 

parties appear on the ballot is subject to state 

law.

2. Tax Laws

Party committees and organizations should be 

aware that they have to comply with federal and 

state laws on income tax. For information on 

federal tax laws, contact the Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, 

DC 20224 Attention: E:EO(202/283-2300 or 

1-877-829-5500 or at www.irs.gov/eo).

Committees need to obtain a taxpayer ID number. Call 800/TAX-FORM for information. Each 

regional IRS offi ce also has a toll-free number; 

consult your telephone directory for the number in your state. Consult the appropriate state 

agency for information on state income tax laws.

Note that, under the Internal Revenue Code, a 

committee may have to include a special solicitation notice. See “IRS Notice,” page 18.

3. Communications Act

For information on rules concerning rates for purchasing broadcast time, equal access to broadcast media, and procedures for fi ling complaints 

in this area, contact the Federal Communications 

Commission, Policy Division, 445 12th Street, SW, 

Washington, DC 20554 (202/418-2120 or 888-

225-5322).

4. Hatch Act

For information on the Hatch Act, which regulates 

political activity by federal employees, contact 

the Offi ce of Special Counsel, 1730 M Street, 

NW, Washington, DC 20036 (800/854-2824 or 

202/653-7143 or at www.osc.gov/hatchact.htm).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

124 Appendix

Appendix G 

Definitions

Act—The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 

(2 U.S.C. §§431 et seq.), as amended. 100.18.

Administrative Expenses—Rent, utilities, offi ce 

equipment, offi ce supplies, routine building 

maintenance and other operating costs not 

attributable to a specifi c candidate. 106.7(c)(2).

Advisory Opinion (AO)—A formal Commission response regarding the legality of a 

specifi c activity proposed in an advisory 

opinion request (AOR). Part 112.

Affi liated—See below.

Affi liated Committees—Committees and organizations that are considered one committee for 

purposes of the contribution limits. 110.3(a)(1).

• A state party committee and local party 

committees and organizations within that 

state are presumed to be affi liated unless the 

local party unit can demonstrate otherwise. 

110.3(b)(3)

• All committees authorized by the same 

candidate for the same election. 100.5(g)(1); 

110.3(a)(1)(i).

• Committees or organizations established, 

fi nanced, maintained or controlled by the same 

corporation, labor organization, person or 

group. 100.5(g)(2); 110.3(a)(1)(ii).

Allocation Account —A separate federal account 

into which funds from either a committeeís federal 

and nonfederal accounts, or from its federal 

and Levin accounts, are deposited solely to pay 

expenses that must be allocated. (Committee 

must have separate allocation accounts for its 

federal/nonfederal allocation and for its federal/Levin allocation.) 106.7(f) and 300.33(d).

Agent (of a party)—An agent is any person 

that has actual authority, either expressed 

or implied, to engage in certain activities on behalf of the committee.

• In the case of state and local party committees, 

these activities are 1) expending or disbursing 

any funds for federal election activity, 2) 

transferring or accepting transfers of funds for 

federal election activity, 3) engaging in joint 

fundraising activity if any part of the funds 

are to be used for federal election activity, or 

soliciting any funds for, or making or directing 

any donations to, any tax-exempt 501(c) 

organization or 527 organization that is not also 

a political committee, a party committee or an 

authorized campaign committee. 300.2(b)(2).

• In the case of the national party committees, 

these activities are 1) soliciting, directing or 

receiving a contribution, donation or transfer of 

funds or, 2) soliciting any funds for, or making 

or directing contributions to, any tax-exempt 

501(c) organization or 527 organization 

that is not also a political committee, a 

party committee or an authorized campaign 

committee. 300.2(b)(1).

• In the case of communications, for all party 

committees, the activities include requesting or 

suggesting that a communication be created, 

produced or distributed; creating, producing 

or distributing any communication at the 

request of a candidate; or being materially 

involved in the content or distribution of a 

communication.109.3(a).

Agent (of a candidate)—An agent is any 

person that on behalf of a campaign has actual 

authority, either expressed or implied, to: 

• Solicit, receive, direct, transfer or spend funds in 

connection with any election. 300.2(b)(3), or

• Request or suggest that a communication be 

created, produced or distributed; to create, 

produce or distribute any communication at 

the request of a candidate; or to be materially 

involved in the content or distribution of a 

communication.109.3(b).

Authorized Committee—See Candidate Committee.

Bank—A state bank, a federally chartered 

depository institution (including a national 

bank) or a depository institution insured by 

the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 

or the National Credit Union Administration. 

103.2; 100.82(a)-(d); 100.142(a)-(d).

Candidate—An individual seeking nomination or election to federal offi ce becomes a 

candidate when he or she and agents acting on 

his or her behalf raise contributions or make 

expenditures that exceed $5,000. 100.3(a).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

125 Appendix

Candidate Committee—A principal campaign 

committee or any other political committee 

authorized in writing by a federal candidate to 

receive contributions and make expenditures 

on the candidate’s behalf. 100.5(e)(1) and 

100.5(f)(1). The Act and FEC regulations refer to 

candidate committees as ìauthorized committees.

Candidate’s Campaign—A candidate for 

federal offi ce, his or her authorized 

agents, principal campaign committee 

and other authorized committees.

Clearly Identifi ed Candidate—A candidate is 

clearly identifi ed when his or her name, 

nickname, drawing or photograph appears in a 

communication or when his or her identity is 

otherwise apparent through an unambiguous 

reference (such as “the President,” “your 

Congressman” or “the incumbent”) or through an 

unambiguous reference to his or her status as a 

candidate (such as “the Democratic Presidential 

nominee” or “the Republican candidate for 

Senate in the State of Georgia”). 100.17.

Commercial Vendor—A person whose usual and 

normal business involves the sale, rental, lease 

or provision of the goods or services it provides 

to a candidate or political committee. 116.1(c).

Committee—As generally used in this 

guide, a political committee. (In Appendix 

E, however, the term means a political 

committee or an unregistered group.)

Contribution—A payment, service or 

anything of value given to infl uence 

a federal election. 100.52(a).

Coordinated—Made in cooperation, consultation 

or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate, a candidateís authorized 

committee or their agents, or a political 

party committee or its agents. 109.20

Coordinated Communication—A communication 

that satisfi es a three-prong test. 1) the communication must be paid for by a person other 

than a federal candidate, a candidateís authorized 

committee or political party committee, or any 

agent of any of the foregoing (but see also “Party 

Coordinated Communication,” below); 2) one 

or more of the four content standards set forth 

in 11 CFR 109.21(c) must be satisfi ed; and 3) 

one or more of the fi ve conduct standards set 

forth in 11 CFR 109.21(d) must be satisfi ed. 

A payment for a communication satisfying 

all three prongs is an in-kind contribution to 

the candidate or political party committee 

with which it was coordinated. 109.21.

Coordinated Party Expenditures—Commonly referred 

to as a “441a(d)” expenditure for its derivation 

from 2 U.S.C. 441a(d), this is a special type of 

expenditure that can only be made by a national 

or state political party committee in connection 

with the general election of a candidate. These 

expenditures are subject to a separate set of 

limits and do not count against the partyís 

normal contribution limits with respect to each 

candidate. 109.30, 109.32 and 109.34. 

Corporation—Any separately incorporated 

entity (other than a political committee that 

has incorporated for liability purposes only). 

100.134(l); 114.12(a). The term covers both 

for-profi t and nonprofi t incorporated organizations and includes corporations without capital 

stock, incorporated membership organizations, 

incorporated trade associations, incorporated 

cooperatives and professional corporations.

Delegate—An individual who is or seeks to 

become a delegate to a national nominating 

convention or to a state or local convention, 

caucus or primary held to select delegates to a 

national nominating convention. 110.14(b)(1).

Delegate Committee—A group organized for the 

purpose of infl uencing the selection of one or 

more delegates. The term includes a group of 

delegates, a group of individuals seeking to 

become delegates and a group of individuals 

supporting delegates. 110.14(b)(2).

District Party Committee—See local party committee

Earmarked Contribution—A contribution that the 

contributor directs (either orally or in writing) 

to a clearly identifi ed candidate or candidateís 

committee through an intermediary or conduit. 

Earmarking may take the form of a designation, 

instruction or encumbrance, and it may be direct 

or indirect, express or implied. 110.6(b)(1).
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

126 Appendix

Election—Any one of several processes by which 

an individual seeks nomination for election, 

or election, to federal offi ce. They include: a 

primary election, including a caucus or convention that has authority to select a nominee; a 

general election; a runoff election; and a special 

election held to fi ll a vacant seat. 100.2.

Election Year—A year in which there are 

regularly scheduled elections for federal 

offi ce (i.e., even-numbered years).

Electioneering Communication—Any broadcast, 

cable or satellite communication that 1) refers 

to a clearly identifi ed federal candidate, 2) 

is publicly distributed within 60 days of a 

general election or 30 days of a primary, and 3) 

is targeted to the relevant electorate, in the case 

of House and Senate candidates. 100.29(a).

Exempt Party Activities—Certain candidatesupport activities that state and local 

party groups may undertake without making 

a contribution or expenditure, provided 

specifi c rules are followed. 100.80; 100.87; 

100.89; 100.140;100.147;100.149.

Expenditure—A purchase or payment for the purpose of infl uencing a federal election. A written 

agreement to make an expenditure is considered 

an expenditure. 100.111(a); 100.112; 114.1(a).

Express Advocacy—Unambiguously advocating 

the election or defeat of a clearly identifi ed 

federal candidate. There are two ways that 

a communication can be defi ned as express 

advocacy (candidate advocacy): by use of certain 

“explicit words of advocacy of election or defeat” 

and by the “only reasonable interpretation” 

test. 100.22. See Chapter 9 for further detail.

Federal Account—An account established 

for activity in connection with any 

federal election. 102.5(a)(1)(i).

Federal Election—An election for federal offi ce.

Federal Election Activity—Activity by entities, 

including state, district and local party committees which may be paid for with federal or - in 

the case of the fi rst two types - a combination 

of federal and Levin funds. 1) Voter registration 

activity during the period 120 days before 

a primary or general election and ending on 

election day itself; 2) Voter identifi cation, 

get-out-the-vote and generic campaign activity 

conducted in connection with an election in 

which a federal candidate appears on the ballot; 

3) A public communication that refers to a clearly 

identifi ed candidate for federal offi ce and that 

promotes, attacks, supports or opposes any 

candidate for federal offi ce. The communication 

does not need to expressly advocate the election 

or defeat of the federal candidate to qualify 

as federal election activity; and 4) Services 

provided during a month by an employee of 

a state, district or local party committee who 

spends more than 25 percent of his or her 

compensated time during that month on activities 

in connection with a federal election. 100.24(b)

Federal Funds—Funds which comply with 

the limits, prohibitions and reporting 

requirements of federal law. 300.2(g).

Federal Government Contractor—A person who 

enters into a contract with any agency or 

department of the United States government 

and is paid for services, materials, equipment, supplies, land or buildings with funds 

appropriated by Congress. 115.1(a).

Federal Offi ce—U.S. Presidency and Vice 

Presidency and seats in the U.S. Congress: 

Senator, Representative, Delegate (the District of 

Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Virgin Islands) 

and Resident Commissioner (Puerto Rico). 100.4.

Foreign National—A foreign national is 

either: (1) an individual who is not a citizen 

or “national” of the United States and has 

not been lawfully admitted to the U.S. for 

permanent residence, as defi ned in 8†U.S.C. 

ß1101(a)(20); or (2) a foreign principal, as 

defi ned in 2 U.S.C. §611(b). 110.20(a)(3).

Generic Campaign Activity—A type of federal 

election activity, as distinguished from voter 

drive activity (see below). Generic campaign 

activity is a public communication that promotes 

or opposes a political party and does not 

promote or oppose a clearly identifi ed federal 

candidate or a nonfederal candidate. 100.25.

Get-out-the-vote activity—In regard to federal 

election activity, this means contacting registered 

voters by telephone, in person or by other 
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

127 Appendix

individualized means to assist them in voting. 

This activity includes, but is not limited to 

providing individual voters with information 

about when and where polling places are open 

within 72 hours of the election or transporting 

voters to polling places. 100.24(a)(3).

Independent Expenditure—An expenditure for 

a communication which expressly advocates 

the election or defeat of a clearly identifi ed 

candidate and which is not made in coordination 

with any candidate or authorized committee 

or agent of a candidate. 100.16; 109.37.

In-Kind Contribution—A contribution of goods, services or property offered free or at less than the 

usual and normal charge. The term also includes 

payments made on behalf of, but not directly to, 

candidates and political committees. 100.52(d).

Joint Contribution—A contribution made by 

more than one person on a single check or 

other written instrument. 110.1(k)(1).

Labor Organization—A union or other employeerepresentative organization that deals with 

employers on grievances, labor disputes, wages, 

working conditions, etc. 100.134(b); 114.1(d).

Levin Funds—A category of funds raised by state, 

district and local party committees that may be 

spent for certain federal election activities. Levin 

funds are donations from sources ordinarily prohibited by federal law but permitted by State law.

Local or District Party Committee—A political committee responsible for the day-to-day operation of 

a political party at a level lower than the state 

level (e.g., city, county, ward). 100.14(b).

Local Party Organization—Same as Local 

Party Committee except that a local party 

organization is not a political committee.

Major Party—A political party whose candidate 

in the preceding Presidential election received, 

as the candidate of such party, 25 percent or 

more of the popular vote. 9002.6; 9008.2(c).

Memo Entry—Supplemental or explanatory 

information on a reporting schedule. The dollar 

amount of a memo entry is not included in the 

total fi gure for the schedule. A memo entry is 

often used to disclose additional information 

about an itemized transaction that is included 

in the total receipts or disbursements for the 

current report or a previous report.

Minor Party—A political party whose candidate 

in the preceding Presidential election 

received, as the candidate of such party, 5 

percent or more, but less than 25 percent, 

of the popular vote. 9002.7; 9008.2(d).

Multicandidate Committee—A political committee that has been registered at least 6 

months, has more than 50 contributors and, 

with the exception of state party committees, has made contributions to at least 5 

candidates for federal offi ce. 100.5(e)(3).

MUR (Matter Under Review)—An FEC enforcement action, initiated by a sworn complaint 

or by an internal administrative action.

National Committee—An organization that, 

by virtue of the bylaws of a political party, 

is responsible for the day-to-day operation 

of the political party at the national level, as 

determined by the Commission. 100.13.

National Party Committee—A political committee 

established and maintained by a national political 

party. A partyís national committee, House 

campaign committee and Senate campaign 

committee are defi ned as national party committees. 110.1(c)(2); 110.2(c)(2); 110.3(b)(2).

Negative Entry—A negative amount entered on 

a reporting schedule, shown in parentheses 

on a schedule. The amount is subtracted 

from the total balance for that schedule.

Net Debts Outstanding—The total of a candidate 

committeeís unpaid debts with respect to a 

particular election, including estimated costs to 

liquidate the debts plus costs of terminating political activity (if appropriate) minus cash on hand 

and receivables. 110.1(b)(3)(ii); 110.2(b)(3)(ii).

New Party—A political party that is neither a major party nor a minor party. 9002.8; 9008.2(f).

Nonconnected Committee—A political committee that is not a party committee, a 

separate segregated fund or an authorized committee of a candidate.
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

128 Appendix

Nonelection Year—A year in which there 

is no regularly scheduled federal election (i.e., odd-numbered years).

Nonfederal Account—An account established 

solely for activity in connection with nonfederal 

(state and local) elections. 102.5(a)(1)(i).

Nonfederal Election—An election for state or local offi ce.

Nonmajor Party—A political party that is 

either a minor party or a new party.

Ongoing Committee—A political committee 

that has not terminated and does not qualify 

as a terminating committee. 116.1(b).

Operating Expenditures—The same as 

Administrative Expenses, but also includes 

disbursements for salaries that do not 

qualify as federal election activity.

Organization—Generally used in this guide to 

mean a group that is not a political committee.

PAC—Acronym for Political Action Committee.

Party Committee—A political committee 

which represents a political party and is 

part of the offi cial party structure at the 

national, state or local level. 100.5(e)(4).

Party Coordinated Communication—A communication 

that satisfi es a similar three-prong test as for 

a “coordinated communication” (see above), 

except that the fi rst prong requires that the 

communication be paid for by a political party 

committee or its agents. A payment for a communication satisfying all three prongs is either 

an in-kind contribution to, or a “coordinated 

party expenditure” on behalf of, the candidate 

with whom it was coordinated. 109.37.

Party Organization—Same as Party Committee except that a party organization 

is not a political committee.

Permissible Funds—Funds which do not 

violate the Actís limits or prohibitions.

Person—An individual, partnership or any 

group of persons (such as a political committee, corporation or labor organization), not 

including the federal government. 100.10.

Political Action Committee (PAC)—Popular term for a 

political committee that is neither a party committee nor an authorized committee of a candidate. 

PACs established, administered or fi nancially 

supported by corporations or labor organizations 

are called separate segregated funds (SSFs); 

other PACs are called nonconnected committees.

Political Committee—An entity that meets 

one of the following conditions:

• A state party committee or nonparty committee 

(e.g., a nonconnected committee), club, 

association or other group of persons that 

receives contributions or makes expenditures, 

either of which aggregate over $1,000 during a 

calendar year.

• A local unit of a political party that: (1) receives 

contributions aggregating over $5,000 during 

a calendar year; (2) makes contributions or 

expenditures that aggregate over $1,000 

during a calendar year; or (3) makes payments 

aggregating over $5,000 during a calendar year 

for exempt party activities.

• An authorized committee of a candidate (see 

defi nition of “candidate’ and 

‘candidate committee’).

• Any separate segregated fund upon its 

establishment. 100.5(a)ñ(d).

Political Party—An organization that nominates 

or selects a candidate for election to federal 

offi ce whose name appears on the election ballot 

as the candidate of the organization. 100.15.

Principal Campaign Committee—A committee 

authorized by the candidate as the principal 

committee of his or her campaign. 100.5(e)(1).

Public Communication—A communication by 

means of any broadcast or satellite communication, newspaper, magazine, outdoor 

advertising facility, mass mailing or telephone 

bank to the general public, or any other form 

of general public political advertising. 100.26.

Refunded Contribution—A contribution is refunded 

when the recipient committee deposits the 

contribution and sends the contributor a check 
Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees

129 Appendix

for the amount (or a portion) of the contribution. 

103.3(b). Compare with Returned Contribution.

Restricted Class—The executive and administrative personnel, members and stockholders 

(and the families of each) of a corporation or labor organization. 114.1(j).

Returned Contribution—A contribution is returned 

when the recipient committee sends the original 

check (or other negotiable instrument) back to 

the contributor, without depositing it. 103.3(a). 

Compare with Refunded Contribution.

Runoff Election—An election held after a 

primary or a general election when no candidate 

wins the previous election. 100.2(d).

Separate Segregated Fund (SSF)—A political committee established, administered or fi nancially 

supported by a corporation or labor organization. 

114.1(a)(2)(iii) and 100.6. SSFs are popularly 

called political action committees or PACs.

Solicit—With regard to 11 CFR, part 300, 

to solicit means to ask that another person 

make a contribution, donation, transfer 

of funds or anything of value, either 

directly or through an intermediary.

Special Election—A primary, general or runoff 

election which is not a regularly scheduled 

election and which is held to fi ll a vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives 

or the U.S. Senate. 100.2(f).

State Party Committee—A political committee 

which, by virtue of the bylaws of a political party, 

is responsible for the day-to-day operation 

of the party at the state level. 100.14(a).

Subordinate Party Committee—Any organization that 

is at the level of city, county, neighborhood, ward, 

district, precinct or any subdivision of a State, or 

any organization under the direction or control of 

the state committee, and is directly or indirectly 

established, fi nanced, maintained or controlled by 

the state, district or local committee. 100.14(c).

Terminating Committee—A political committee that 

is winding down its activities in preparation for 

fi ling a termination report and that has ceased to 

receive or make contributions (other than to receive contributions for debt retirement purposes) 

and to make expenditures (other than for payment of debts and winding-down costs). 116.1(a).

Transfer—A payment by one party committee to an affi liated committee or to 

another party committee or party organization. 102.6(a)(i) ñ (ii) and 110.3(c)(1).

Unauthorized Committee—A political committee not 

authorized in writing by any candidate to solicit 

or receive contributions or to make expenditures 

on behalf of a candidate. 100.5(f)(2).

Unauthorized Single-Candidate Committee—A political 

committee not authorized by any candidate, which 

makes contributions or expenditures on behalf 

of only one candidate. 100.5(e)(2) and (f)(2).

Usual and Normal Charge—With regard to goods, 

the price of the goods in the market from which 

they ordinarily would have been purchased at 

the time they were provided. With regard to 

services, the hourly or piecework charge at the 

commercially reasonable rate prevailing at the 

time the services were rendered. 100.52(d)(2).

Voter Drive Activity—Voter identifi cation, voter 

registration, and get-out-the-vote-drives, or 

any other activities that urge the general 

public to register or vote , or that promote or 

oppose a political party, without promoting 

any federal or nonfederal candidate. This is a 

category of allocable activity for mixed federal / 

nonfederal party activity sometimes also referred 

to as a “generic voter drive”. 106.7(c)(5).

Voter Identifi cation—With regard to federal 

election activity, creating or enhancing voter 

lists by verifying or adding information about 

the voters’ likelihood of voting in an upcoming election or their likelihood for voting 

for specifi c candidates. 100.24(a)(4).

Voter Registration Activity—In regard to federal 

election activity, this means contacting individuals 

by telephone, in person or by other individualized 

means in order to assist them in registering to 

vote. This activity includes, but is not limited 

to, printing and distributing registration and 

voting information, providing individuals with 

registration forms and assisting individuals with 

completing and fi ling these forms. 100.24(a)(2).


For more information, or to obtain

additional copies, write to us at

Information Division

Federal Election Commission

999 E Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20463

or call us at

1-(800) 424-9530

or visit our website

www.fec.gov

FE4AN059